[Elecraft] LINUX PCs and ham SW?

[John Magliacane]

> Other than W1HKJ's programs, and jLog - a Java based cross
> platform logging program - I don't know of any Linux ham software
> that is being actively developed.

Hmmmm....

http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/software.html

And that's just me.  :-)

> And precompiled Linux binaries (unlike Windows
> .EXEs) very often won't run on a different version than
> the one they were compiled on.

It's *ALWAYS* best to compile from source.  That way, the executable
that is produced is tailored specifically for your CPU and computing
platform for best performance.  (Sort of like having all your impedances
matched.)
 
> Three commands may work to compile the very simplest basic
> C programs, but for many others especially GUI programs you first
> need to download and install various development libraries, many
> of which may have dependencies on other software that also needs
> to be installed.

"Good" distributions (those with enough forethought built into them)
usually come with these pre-installed.  It is appalling that some of
the more popular distros appear to put more effort into "ease of
use" issues and "eye candy" than core substance.

I have been using Slackware since around 1994, and haven't had
the need nor desire to change.  Sure, it may take some thought, time,
and effort to finalize configurations, but that makes it no different than
spending the time to build an Elecraft rig over buying a ready-made
transceiver.  I doubt there is an Elecraft builder alive who doesn't fully
believe the small effort to build their kit wasn't worth the reward it
provided in the end.

And so what is true for hardware is also true for software, for very similar
reasons.
 
Don't give up so easily.  ;-)


73, de John, KD2BD

--
Visit John on the Web at:

	http://kd2bd.ham.org/
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