linux software on Mac

Networking/Security Forums -> Macintosh

Author: Colonel_Panic PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:20 pm    Post subject: linux software on Mac
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Sorry if this is an idiotic question, but I couldn't figure it out on my own...

Since Mac OS is a sort of Unix and it is said to be (more or less?) compatible with linux, does that mean that I can go and download some linux software source and compile it on Mac????

I'm thinking about buying a new computer and trying to decide whether I just by one with no software and install linux or perhaps buy a Mac. Mac would be my choice if I can use tools, commands, tricks and applications that I've become familiar with (on linux).

Will Mac bring me best of both open source and commercial software?

Shocked

Author: catwomanLocation: Edinburgh, Scotland PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:03 pm    Post subject:
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Read this thread for more info:

http://security-forums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12163

Sorry your question is not my area of expertise or I'd have been more helpful Smile

Quote:
Will Mac bring me best of both open source and commercial software

As with everything else on a Mac, it depends what software you need to use. Certainly most common commercial software is available to Mac users and there are many open source/freeware/shareware available.

This is one source that I know of:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/

Author: hugoLocation: Netherlands, Europe PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:19 pm    Post subject:
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Mac OS X can, if the development package has been installed, compile most UNIX sources like Linux, *BSD, and other open source operating systems do.

Most UNIX-flavoured OSes are POSIX or ANSI compliant. Roughly said, the POSIX and ANSI standards have been created to make different compilers on different systems understand the code the same.

Most open source projects can be compiled on a MacOSX machine, although it *could* happen that certain required libraries do not compile. This is something you'd have to find out for yourself (or by checking the projects' homepage to see if MacOSX is supported)..

Note that this only is true for source packages: you cannot run linux binaries on a MacOSX-box.

Hope this helps.

Author: Colonel_Panic PostPosted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:41 pm    Post subject:
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Thanks for replies, everything seems good so far.

Are there going to be 64 bit laptops from Apple any time soon?

Author: catwomanLocation: Edinburgh, Scotland PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 1:52 pm    Post subject:
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Colonel_Panic wrote:
Are there going to be 64 bit laptops from Apple any time soon?

Hopefully! I read that the problem with putting the G5 chip (64 bit) in powerbooks is there's too much heat - can't remember where I read that or I'd post a link.

One they sort that out we'll have a new range of G5 powerbooks

Author: Colonel_Panic PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 4:46 pm    Post subject:
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Google brought up some rumours on G5 powerbook. One date mentioned was september this year. Maybe.
No doubt that Apple is working on it and will deliver something pretty soon though.

Hmm... 64 bit AMD+linux or wait for G5 powerbook? (which probably will cost more than a small banana republic when it finally arrives Sad )



Networking/Security Forums -> Macintosh


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