Search Results

Search found 2027 results on 82 pages for 'jason hoax'.

Page 11/82 | < Previous Page | 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18  | Next Page >

  • Pancake.io Is a Dead Simple Way to Host a Web Site from Your Dropbox Account

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Pancake.io is a web-based app that makes it dead simple to use your Dropbox account as as simple web host. Signup for an account and Pancake.io creates a folder in your Dropbox. You can modify the page in one of two ways: you can simply put files into the folder and use the simple template provided by Pancake.io to share them or you can edit the template (located in the Pancake.io folder) to customize the page. Hit up the link below to read more about Pancake.io and take it for a test drive. Pancake.io [via ReadWriteWeb] HTG Explains: How Hackers Take Over Web Sites with SQL Injection / DDoS Use Your Android Phone to Comparison Shop: 4 Scanner Apps Reviewed How to Run Android Apps on Your Desktop the Easy Way

    Read the article

  • What’s Outt Showcases What’s New in Theaters, TV, Music, Books, Games, and More

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    It’s tough to keep on top of all the new media that comes out; What’s Outt gathers current and future releases for everything from in-theater movies to console games. You can check out the current week, up to two weeks into the future, and–if you’re a bit behind the new release wave–you can page your way back through the archives to catch up. In addition to the web interface, What’s Outt has a simple once-a-week mailing list to keep you updated on the newest releases across all the categories they tracks. What’s Outt [via MakeUseOf] How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 2 How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 1 What’s the Difference Between Sleep and Hibernate in Windows?

    Read the article

  • Awesome Mod Adds Cooperative Multiplayer to Super Mario 64

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    The lack of multiplayer action in Super Mario 64 bothered one game modder so much he hacked the game to include cooperative multiplayer as well as online play. Check out the video to see it in action. To play the new version of the game you’ll either need a jailbroken Wii (so you can load a homebrew WAD file) or an N64 PC emulator. You can grab the WAD file for the Wii here or the necessary files for the PC emulator here. For more information about other great mod projects from the author of this mod, hit up the link below. Super Mario 64 Multiplayer 1.0 [via Press The Buttons] What Is the Purpose of the “Do Not Cover This Hole” Hole on Hard Drives? How To Log Into The Desktop, Add a Start Menu, and Disable Hot Corners in Windows 8 HTG Explains: Why You Shouldn’t Use a Task Killer On Android

    Read the article

  • Ask the Readers: What Technology Are You Most Thankful For?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for U.S. readers and we’re interested in what technology our readers, celebrating the holiday or otherwise, are most thankful for. Hop into the comments and share. Smartphones? Ebook readers? All that miniaturization that makes your medical equipment tick? Whatever technology you’re most thankful for this year, we’d love to hear all about it. Sound off in the comments with a note on what technology–be it gizmo, gadget, or bit of code–you’re thankful for and what makes it dear to your heart. Check back in on Friday for the What You Said roundup to see what you’re fellow readers are thankful for. Why Does 64-Bit Windows Need a Separate “Program Files (x86)” Folder? Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows

    Read the article

  • Ghost Incognito Automatically Loads Incognito Mode Based on Domain

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Chrome: Ghost Incognito mode is a simple Chrome extension that automatically launches Incognito mode on a domain-by-domain basis. If you routinely visit the same sites using Incognito Mode, Ghost Incognito allows you to flag domains. By default it turns on Incognito for all .XXX domains and, once you select some domains, for any that you specify. Thus if you flag angrybirds.com, as we did for our test run of the app, every time you visit angrybirds.com or a sub-domain there of such as shop.angrybirds.com, you’ll be automatically directed to a new Incognito tab–no input from you necessary. Ghost Incognito is free, Chrome only. Ghost Incognito [via Addictive Tips] HTG Explains: When Do You Need to Update Your Drivers? How to Make the Kindle Fire Silk Browser *Actually* Fast! Amazon’s New Kindle Fire Tablet: the How-To Geek Review

    Read the article

  • Evoland: A Video Game About Video Game History

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Browser-based Evoland is, hands down, one of the more clever video game concepts to come across our desk. The game itself is a history of video games–as you play the game the game evolves from a limited 8-bit monochrome adventure into a modern game. You start off unable to do anything but move right and collect a treasure chest. That treasure chest unlocks the left key (keys are configured in a WASD style keypad) which in turn allows you to move around a simple monochromatic forest clearing to unlock the rest of the movement keys. From there you begin unlocking more game features, effectively evolving the game from monochrome to 16 and then 64 bit color and unlocking various game play features. The game itself is short and can be played in about the same time you could watch a video covering the basics of various game changes over the last 30 years but actually playing the game and watching the evolution in progress is far more rewarding. Hit up the link below to take it for a spin. Evoland [via Boing Boing] How To Switch Webmail Providers Without Losing All Your Email How To Force Windows Applications to Use a Specific CPU HTG Explains: Is UPnP a Security Risk?

    Read the article

  • Turn a Computer Power Supply into a Desktop Power Supply

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’re looking for a desktop power supply for your electronics workbench, this tutorial video shows you how to turn a computer PSU into a desktop power supply. In the above video the guys at JumperOneTV show us how to make a desktop power supply. As an addendum to the video; they note in the comments section on the YouTube video that they were wearing gloves for the drilling and that they did a very thorough job cleaning out any loose metal shavings with an air compressor. If you wanted to play it even safer (and you should!) you would remove the circuit board from the enclosure before doing any drilling. Converting an ATX Power Supply to a Lab Bench Power Supply [JumperOneTV via Make] How To Recover After Your Email Password Is CompromisedHow to Clean Your Filthy Keyboard in the Dishwasher (Without Ruining it)Learn How to Make HDR Images in Photoshop or GIMP With a Simple Trick

    Read the article

  • How to Change the Default Application for Android Tasks

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    When it comes time to switch from using one application to another on your Android device it isn’t immediately clear how to do so. Follow along as we walk you through swapping the default application for any Android task. Initially changing the default application in Android is a snap. After you install the new application (new web browser, new messaging tool, new whatever) Android prompts you to pick which application (the new or the old) you wish to use for that task the first time you attempt to open a web page, check your text message, or otherwise trigger the event. Easy! What about when it comes time to uninstall the app or just change back to your old app? There’s no helpful pop-up dialog box for that. Read on as we show you how to swap out any default application for any other with a minimum of fuss. Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How to Change the Default Application for Android Tasks Stop Believing TV’s Lies: The Real Truth About "Enhancing" Images The How-To Geek Valentine’s Day Gift Guide Inspire Geek Love with These Hilarious Geek Valentines RGB? CMYK? Alpha? What Are Image Channels and What Do They Mean? How to Recover that Photo, Picture or File You Deleted Accidentally Now Together and Complete – McBain: The Movie [Simpsons Video] Be Creative by Using Hex and RGB Codes for Crayola Crayon Colors on Your Next Web or Art Project [Geek Fun] Flash Updates; Finally Supports Full Screen Video on Multiple Monitors 22 Ways to Recycle an Altoids Mint Tin Make Your Desktop Go Native with the Tribal Arts Theme for Windows 7 A History of Vintage Transformers: Decepticons Edition [Infographic]

    Read the article

  • Is Haskell worth learning?

    - by Jason K
    I am looking at this question primarily from a career point of view, so I hope you answer it accordingly. I am fairly proficient with Python, can write C++ and I am a final year student of computer science engineering I am looking to learn Haskell because I have heard a lot about it. My question is: apart from learning it because of all the good I have heard about it, is it any good for my career? Is it used in the industry? I am curious to learn it but unless it helps me somehow in my career, I am not willing to make that change at this stage. Looking for some personal experiences here. Thanks!

    Read the article

  • Ask The Readers: What Are Your Best Malware Fighting Tricks?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Malware has become increasingly sophisticated and widespread; it’s more important than ever to have a robust toolkit for dealing with it. This week we want to hear about your favorite tips and tricks for dealing with malware infestations. Photo background by clix. Dealing with malware infestations usually takes more than simply running an anti-virus scanner. This week we want to hear your best tips, tricks, and unique tools for dealing with malware on your computer or, more likely, the computers of unwitting friends and relatives. Here’s a few tips we’ve shared in the past to highlight what we’re talking about when we ask for tips (as opposed to simple recommendations for a certain AV application): Here’s a Super Simple Trick to Defeating Fake Anti-Virus Malware How To Remove Internet Security 2010 and other Rogue/Fake Antivirus Malware How To Remove Antivirus Live and Other Rogue/Fake Antivirus Malware How To Remove Security Tool and other Rogue/Fake Antivirus Malware Latest Features How-To Geek ETC Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space? What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology? Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Released: But Should You Install It? How To Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions Add a “Textmate Style” Lightweight Text Editor with Dropbox Syncing to Chrome and Iron Is the Forcefield Really On or Not? [Star Wars Parody Video] Google Updates Picasa Web Albums; Emphasis on Sharing and Showcasing Uwall.tv Turns YouTube into a Video Jukebox Early Morning Sunrise at the Beach Wallpaper Data Networks Visualized via Light Paintings [Video]

    Read the article

  • GoodFil.ms Suggests New Movies Based on Friends’ Picks

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Goodfil.ms is a movie suggestion engine that doesn’t suggest movies based on what the critics say or how many anonymous internet points a movie has received, but instead takes into account your personal tastes and the tastes of your friends. From the Goodfil.ms FAQ: Films are social. The best way to find movies is through the people you know. We’ve designed Goodfilms from the ground up to show you what your existing friends are watching and rating, and to focus on showing you what the people around you think about films instead of a random grab bag of “internet voters” or highly specialised critics. Their FAQ file is filled with links to detailed posts about the specifics of the process, so if you’re the curious type we strongly suggest checking it out. In addition to the social-ranking side of Goodfil.ms there’s an excellent “Recent Releases” section for major streaming services like iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon Prime–even if you don’t sign up for the social side of the site you can still keep an eye on the best new releases across the board. What To Do If You Get a Virus on Your Computer Why Enabling “Do Not Track” Doesn’t Stop You From Being Tracked HTG Explains: What is the Windows Page File and Should You Disable It?

    Read the article

  • Taskbar Meters Turn Your Taskbar into a System Resource Monitor

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’re looking for some simple hardware monitoring tools that don’t clutter up your screen real estate but are right in front of you when you need them, Taskbar Meters sit unobtrusively right on the Windows taskbar. Open source, lightweight, and portable Taskbar Meters is actually a set of three applications. There is one for monitoring memory use, one for CPU use, and one for disk activity. Using the application is as simple as running the specific app for the monitoring you want (we have all three running in the screenshot here) and adjusting the sliders to set the update frequency and the percent utilization at which the meters turn from green, to yellow, to red. If you’re testing software loads and benchmarking Taskbar Meters doesn’t offer the kind of fine-tooth-comb view into system performance that you’ll need but for casual “What’s going on with my machine?” monitoring, it’s unobtrusive and effective. Taskbar Meters is an open source set of portable applications, Windows 7 only. Taskbar Meters [Codeplex] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC Macs Don’t Make You Creative! So Why Do Artists Really Love Apple? MacX DVD Ripper Pro is Free for How-To Geek Readers (Time Limited!) HTG Explains: What’s a Solid State Drive and What Do I Need to Know? How to Get Amazing Color from Photos in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Lakeside Sunset in the Mountains [Wallpaper] Taskbar Meters Turn Your Taskbar into a System Resource Monitor Create Shortcuts for Your Favorite or Most Used Folders in Ubuntu Create Custom Sized Thumbnail Images with Simple Image Resizer [Cross-Platform] Etch a Circuit Board using a Simple Homemade Mixture Sync Blocker Stops iTunes from Automatically Syncing

    Read the article

  • NASA Releases Highest Resolution Photo of Mars Ever Seen

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Whether you’re in the mood for a high-resolution extraterrestrial wallpaper or just want to take a very close peek at the surface of Mars, this 23096 x 7681 resolution image ought to do the trick. Courtesy of NASA and Oppurtunity–the Mars Exploration Rover seen in the photo–the panoramic image was captured during the last Martian winter, between the Earth dates of December 21, 2001 and May 8, 2012. Hit up the link below to grab a full-resolution copy as well as read more about the geologic formations seen in the picture and the activities of the rover. ‘Greeley Panorama’ from Opportunity’s Fifth Martian Winter [Nasa] How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC Download the Official How-To Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 How to Banish Duplicate Photos with VisiPic

    Read the article

  • 3D Printed Records Bring New Tunes to Iconic Fisher-Price Toy Player

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Have an old toy Fisher-Price record player your kids aren’t exactly enamored with? Now, thanks to the miracle of 3D printing, you can create new records for it. Courtesy of Fred Murphy, this Instructables tutorial will guide you through the process of taking music and encoding it in a 3D printer file that will yield a tiny plastic record the Fisher-Prince record player can play. Check out the video above to see the finished product or hit up the link below to read the full tutorial. 3D Printing for the Fisher-Price Record Player [via Make] How to Get Pro Features in Windows Home Versions with Third Party Tools HTG Explains: Is ReadyBoost Worth Using? HTG Explains: What The Windows Event Viewer Is and How You Can Use It

    Read the article

  • Properly Label Your Dangerous Projects

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    In the pursuit of science, fun, and laser-fueled hijinks, we often undertake projects that really should be labeled more properly. Download this effective label to visually warn “No really, you’ll burn the house down”. Courtesy of Flattr at Thingiverse, you can grab a copy of the “Warning: Will Burn Your House Down” graphic in high resolution image formats suitable for silk screening, laser engraving, or plain old fashioned sign printing. Warning: Will Burn Your House Down [Thingiverse via Make] How To Encrypt Your Cloud-Based Drive with BoxcryptorHTG Explains: Photography with Film-Based CamerasHow to Clean Your Dirty Smartphone (Without Breaking Something)

    Read the article

  • How Many People Are In Space Right Now Tells You Just That

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    How Many People Are In Space Right Now is a web site with a very focused mission: to keep you abreast of just how many humans are currently exploring space. Like similar single-function sites–such as Is It Raining Now–How Many People Are In Space Right Now serves up the information with a simple interface, just the number and a link to which mission or program the space explorers are deployed under. We don’t know about you, but we’d certainly like to see the ratio of humans in space versus humans on Earth improve from the current one space explorer to several billion humans ratio. How Many People Are In Space Right Now [via Boing Boing] How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot Our Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 is Now Available Everywhere How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode

    Read the article

  • How Aluminum Anodizing Works [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Whether we’re talking about a pricey iPod or a cheap carabiner to hold your keys, anodized metals are all around us. Check out this video to see how the process actually works. Courtesy of Bill Hammack, the Engineer Guy, another great video detailing the processes behind products we take for granted. In this installment we learn more about the process of anodizing metals. [via Make] HTG Explains: Why Linux Doesn’t Need Defragmenting How to Convert News Feeds to Ebooks with Calibre How To Customize Your Wallpaper with Google Image Searches, RSS Feeds, and More

    Read the article

  • Get More From Your Kindle: Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Free Books

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you have an ebook reader chances are it’s a Kindle. Today we’re taking a look at ways you can get more from your Kindle using built-in tools, experimental features, and third party software. Read on to supercharge your Kindle experience. You might have bought your Kindle, used it to buy some titles from the Kindle store, and thought that’s all there was to Kindle ownership. Millions of Kindle owners are perfectly happy with that arrangement but you can squeeze much more life and enjoyment out of your Kindle by digging into the device, employing third party hacks and software bundles, and more. How To Easily Access Your Home Network From Anywhere With DDNSHow To Recover After Your Email Password Is CompromisedHow to Clean Your Filthy Keyboard in the Dishwasher (Without Ruining it)

    Read the article

  • OpenFilesView Displays All Open and Locked Files to Help Resolve In-Use Errors

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Windows: You go to move a file and Windows throws up an “In Use” error. OpenFilesView shows you what application or system process is locking up the files you’re trying to move. Sometimes the culprit is obvious; if you go to move your media folder and you’ve got your media player open watching South Park then shutting down the media player is the obvious solution. Other times the culprit is less obvious; sometimes Windows processes and less-than-obvious applications are accessing your files in ways that aren’t apparent. The screenshot below showcases the “In Use” error: This is where OpenFilesView comes into play. Fire up the application to see a list of all active files on your system. The master list is a bit overwhelming (on our test system there were over 1200 open files) but you use the find command to drill down to specific file or folder names. Once you’ve found the locked file you can close the file handle, kill the process, or bring the process to the front (so you can examine the program, if possible, before terminating it). It’s much more efficient than rebooting in an attempt to shake the In-Use error. OpenFilesView is freeware and works on Windows XP through Windows 7. HTG Explains: Do You Really Need to Defrag Your PC? Use Amazon’s Barcode Scanner to Easily Buy Anything from Your Phone How To Migrate Windows 7 to a Solid State Drive

    Read the article

  • Ask the Readers: What’s on Your Geeky Christmas List?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    From tablets to replicas of Tattoine, visions of geeky and technology-loaded gifts surely dance in many of your heads. This week’s question is all about you and the loot you’d love to find in your stocking this year. Whether you’re dreaming of tech goodies like a new ultrabook or ebook reader, or of more geeky pursuits like a Star Trek themed chess set or a tour of Africa to visit abandoned Star Wars sets, we want to hear all about it. Don’t be bashful, hop into the comments and let loose with your wish list; check back on Friday for a What You Said roundup highlighting wishes from the endearing to the extravagant. Our Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 is Now Available Everywhere How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode HTG Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus?

    Read the article

  • DIY Weather-Aware Umbrella Stand Signals Stormy Weather

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    This clever DIY project adds ambient weather notification to your umbrella stand–simply walk by it on your way out the door to get a subtle reminder to take your umbrella. The clever setup involves a hobby board, motion detection, and LEDS to a rather clever end. As you walk by the semi-translucent umbrella stand all of it is mounted in, it lights up to indicate the weather conditions. Blue indicates the forecast for the day shows no sign of rain, green indicates rain, and red indicates thunderstorms. Check out the above video to see the hardware involves and the stand in action; hit up the link below for the full build guide including code. DIY Umbrella Stand Hack with Rain Alert [via Make] How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows HTG Explains: Why Screen Savers Are No Longer Necessary 6 Ways Windows 8 Is More Secure Than Windows 7

    Read the article

  • How Big Is a Billion? [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    A billion is a billion except, when it isn’t. Depending on where and when you were raised and educated, the world “billion” is some magnitudes different–read on to see the difference between a billion in long and short number systems. [via Geeks Are Sexy] Here’s How to Download Windows 8 Release Preview Right Now HTG Explains: Why Linux Doesn’t Need Defragmenting How to Convert News Feeds to Ebooks with Calibre

    Read the article

  • Oracle Releases New Mainframe Re-Hosting in Oracle Tuxedo 11g

    - by Jason Williamson
    I'm excited to say that we've released our next generation of Re-hosting in 11g. In fact I'm doing some hands-on labs now for our Systems Integrators in Italy in a couple of weeks and targeting Latin America next month. If you are an SI, or Rehosting firm and are looking to become an Oracle Partner or get a better understanding of Tuxedo and how to use the workbench for rehosting...drop me a line. Oracle Tuxedo Application Runtime for CICS and Batch 11g provides a CICS API emulation and Batch environment that exploits the full range of Oracle Tuxedo's capabilities. Re-hosted applications run in a multi-node, grid environment with centralized production control. Also, enterprise integration of CICS application services benefits from an open and SOA-enabled framework. Key features include: CICS Application Runtime: Can run IBM CICS applications unchanged in an application grid, which enables the distribution of large workloads across multiple processors and nodes. This simplifies CICS administration and can scale to over 100,000 users and over 50,000 transactions per second. 3270 Terminal Server: Protects business users from change through support for tn3270 terminal emulation. Distributed CICS Resource Management: Simplifies deployment and administration by allowing customers to run CICS regions in a distributed configuration. Batch Application Runtime: Provides robust IBM JES-like job management that enables local or remote job submissions. In addition, distributed batch initiators can enable parallelization of jobs and support fail-over, shortening the batch window and helping to meet stringent SLAs. Batch Execution Environment: Helps to run IBM batch unchanged and also supports JCL functionality and all common batch utilities. Oracle Tuxedo Application Rehosting Workbench 11g provides a set of automated migration tools integrated around a central repository. The tools provide high precision which results in very low error rates and the ability to handle large applications. This enables less expensive, low-risk migration projects. Key capabilities include: Workbench Repository and Cataloguer: Ensures integrity of the migrated application assets through full dependency checking. The Cataloguer generates and maintains all relevant meta-data on source and target components. File Migrator: Supports reliable migration of datasets and flat files to an ISAM or Oracle Database 11g. This is done through the automated migration utilities for data unloading, reloading and validation. It also generates logical access functions to shield developers from data repository changes. DB2 Migrator: Similarly, this tool automates the migration of DB2 schema and data to Oracle Database 11g. COBOL Migrator: Supports migration of IBM mainframe COBOL assets (OLTP and Batch) to open systems. Adapts programs for compiler dialects and data access variations. JCL Migrator: Supports migration of IBM JCL jobs to a Tuxedo ART environment, maintaining the flow and characteristics of batch jobs.

    Read the article

  • 32 Stunning Movie Tributes in LEGO

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    These impressive Sci-Fi LEGO tributes are an impressive combination of time, money, and a whole lot of LEGO bricks. Read on to see everything from Death Star hangers to adorable robots. Over at Dvice, a SyFy channel blog, they’ve rounded up 32 impressive movie tributes crafted entirely in LEGO bricks. The model seen above, for example, is composed of 30,000 bricks and is over six feet on a side. Planning on building your own? You’d better have $2,300 to blow on bricks and six months of spare time to invest. Hit up the link below for more LEGO tributes. 32 Fan-Built LEGO Tributes to Science Fiction [Dvice] 8 Deadly Commands You Should Never Run on Linux 14 Special Google Searches That Show Instant Answers How To Create a Customized Windows 7 Installation Disc With Integrated Updates

    Read the article

  • How Exactly Is One Linux OS “Based On” Another Linux OS?

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    When reviewing different flavors of Linux, you’ll frequently come across phrases like “Ubuntu is based on Debian” but what exactly does that mean? Today’s Question & Answer session comes to us courtesy of SuperUser—a subdivision of Stack Exchange, a community-driven grouping of Q&A web sites. The Question SuperUser reader PLPiper is trying to get a handle on how Linux variants work: I’ve been looking through quite a number of Linux distros recently to get an idea of what’s around, and one phrase that keeps coming up is that “[this OS] is based on [another OS]“. For example: Fedora is based on Red Hat Ubuntu is based on Debian Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu For someone coming from a Mac environment I understand how “OS X is based on Darwin”, however when I look at Linux Distros, I find myself asking “Aren’t they all based on Linux..?” In this context, what exactly does it mean for one Linux OS to be based on another Linux OS? So, what exactly does it mean when we talk about one version of Linux being based off another version? The Answer SuperUser contributor kostix offers a solid overview of the whole system: Linux is a kernel — a (complex) piece of software which works with the hardware and exports a certain Application Programming Interface (API), and binary conventions on how to precisely use it (Application Binary Interface, ABI) available to the “user-space” applications. Debian, RedHat and others are operating systems — complete software environments which consist of the kernel and a set of user-space programs which make the computer useful as they perform sensible tasks (sending/receiving mail, allowing you to browse the Internet, driving a robot etc). Now each such OS, while providing mostly the same software (there are not so many free mail server programs or Internet browsers or desktop environments, for example) differ in approaches to do this and also in their stated goals and release cycles. Quite typically these OSes are called “distributions”. This is, IMO, a somewhat wrong term stemming from the fact you’re technically able to build all the required software by hand and install it on a target machine, so these OSes distribute the packaged software so you either don’t need to build it (Debian, RedHat) or they facilitate such building (Gentoo). They also usually provide an installer which helps to install the OS onto a target machine. Making and supporting an OS is a very complicated task requiring a complex and intricate infrastructure (upload queues, build servers, a bug tracker, and archive servers, mailing list software etc etc etc) and staff. This obviously raises a high barrier for creating a new, from-scratch OS. For instance, Debian provides ca. 37k packages for some five hardware architectures — go figure how much work is put into supporting this stuff. Still, if someone thinks they need to create a new OS for whatever reason, it may be a good idea to use an existing foundation to build on. And this is exactly where OSes based on other OSes come into existence. For instance, Ubuntu builds upon Debian by just importing most packages from it and repackaging only a small subset of them, plus packaging their own, providing their own artwork, default settings, documentation etc. Note that there are variations to this “based on” thing. For instance, Debian fosters the creation of “pure blends” of itself: distributions which use Debian rather directly, and just add a bunch of packages and other stuff only useful for rather small groups of users such as those working in education or medicine or music industry etc. Another twist is that not all these OSes are based on Linux. For instance, Debian also provide FreeBSD and Hurd kernels. They have quite tiny user groups but anyway. Have something to add to the explanation? Sound off in the the comments. Want to read more answers from other tech-savvy Stack Exchange users? Check out the full discussion thread here.     

    Read the article

< Previous Page | 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18  | Next Page >