RE: [MLUG] Cygwin (was "Software development: was mono")

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Wed, 9 Nov 2005, Pottinger, Hardy J. wrote:

> > see, though, the thing with cygwin is the same "issue" i have with 
> > mono. why? why would i run windows and then install a psuedo linux 
> > environment onto windows...basically grafting a os ontop of an os just 
> > to run some random applications.
>
> Not to be obtuse, but, um, to run some applications. :-) In particular, 
> many fine tools from the Linux/Unix realm (grep, find, rename, real pipe 
> fitting) all have their uses, even in Windows. I have Cygwin on my work 
> computer... it's a very handy Swiss army knife. Heck, I even call 
> Cygwin's date.exe from EditPlus, just so I can get the same date format 
> in my BATF (google BATF GTD if you're scratching your head), whether 
> working in Windows, or in vim on Linux.
>
> Though, if you're ever in a pinch and need something from the Unix 
> toolbox on a Windows box (like, unrar, for example), but you don't want 
> to load all of Cygwin, try these:
>
> http://unxutils.sourceforge.net/


All good points.  I think he was dissing Cygwin because he doesn't use 
Windows (except for games that don't run on Linux).  So he has no need for 
Cygwin, but that's just him.

Now, I would like to get everything I use working on Linux, but it is just 
going to be too much work to transition.  I do most scientific work on 
Linux, but I do it remotely from a PC either by SSH or VNC.  It's just 
easier for me to make the PC do all the other stuff I do like download 
photos from my camera, video editing, etc.  PCs are mostly made to work 
for idiots and I am happy to have the luxury of being an idiot outside of 
the area where I do my real work.  I don't want to spend even a few 
minutes making my CD-RW work correctly, for example -- Nero on Windows 
works very well.

Someday Linux will make the grade for the desktop, but until then I have 
to stick with Windows.

On the other hand, Apple seems to have a really nice solution and I could 
try to get with OS X, but that's still a proprietary system and it would 
cost me a lot more than continuing with Windows (both in terms of money 
and time).

Mike

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