HoomanB.com/cs – Computer Science & Linux Links

Computer Links

Last updated: April 3, 2005

General Computer Links

SlashDot – For computer and Linux related news this is the place to be! There is a discussion board for each news article.

Open Source Software

SourceForge.net – The best place to find open source software.
Blender 3D – A very powerful 3D design program. This was a commercial program that was recently released under GPL.
Freevo Turns your Linux machine into a super-cool affordable home theatre system.
Gaim – A great instant messaging tool for Linux and Windows that can use many protocols including Yahoo!, MSN, Jabber, IRC, etc. simultaneously.
The GIMP – The GIMP is a powerful image editing program like Photoshop for both Linux and Windows. Reviews say for some applications like web graphics it's even better than Photoshop. I am a Photoshop user but recently I've found the GIMP to be just as powerful if not better in many ways.
GNUCash – A money management program for Linux like Quicken. I like it better than Quicken because it forced me to organize my accounts correctly.
GPSDrive – A great GPS software for Linux. Loads maps from files or from the Internet. Very powerful.
Inkscape A powerful vector graphics editor for Linux.
KDE – The K Desktop Environment for Linux. This is a great place to find screenshots, help, news and information.
Mozilla.org – The open source browser. In case you don't know this is what Netscape is based on, except it has less bugs and less ads! I particularly like Firefox a nice and fast browser that will replace the browser component of Mozilla very soon.
OpenOffice.org – A very powerful open source office program for Linux, Mac and Windows platforms with great features. It is actually the free version of the famous StarOffice and except for the database program and technical support it doesn't lack any features comparing the paid version!
Dia – The best program I've used to draw all sorts of diagrams and flowcharts. It's also a very good companion to OpenOffice.org .
QCad – The CAD program for Linux.
Wine – An implementation of Windows for Linux. Lets you run Windows programs in Linux. Still under development but it runs many programs including Photoshop smoothly. Since Wine is not an emulator it is pretty fast.
WiredX A multi-platform X Window client. Available for online use and to download.

Open Source Games

The Linux Game Tome (HappyPenguin.org) – A great place for information on the latest Linux games.
Gentoo Games – Free bootable game CDs to download.
BZFlag – Probably the most popular multiplayer open source game! A 3D on-line tank game. Extremely cool and addictive!
Cube – A 3D first person shooter like HalfLife with wonderfull graphics, a few levels and network/on-line play option.
FlightGear – A very nice open source flight simulator for most platforms!
FooBillard – A 3D pool game with excellent graphics.
GLTron – A nice 3D game based on the movie Tron. Up to 4 players can play on a single computer.
GLTron
Globulation2 – A 3D simulation game. Nice game. Allow multiplayer (on or off line) gaming, but the AI is not very smart if you want to play the one-player game. Includes a training too.
SearchAndRescue – An open source helicopter simulator. Not nearly as good as FlightGear but it's still under development and it'll get better soon.
TORCS – A very nice open source racing game like NASCAR. It has just about any camera view that you can imaging. Graphics are pretty cool but if cool graphics is all you want then check out Racer.
Racer – Another open source car simulator with cool graphics.
ClanBomber – A very nice multiplayer game. Lots of fun if you play it with a bunch of people! You need to surround people with bombs and whoever stays alive in the end is the winner. You can play in teams or alone.
FreeCraft – An open source W*r Cr*ft clone. Very nice. (Note: The creators of the original game shutdown the site because the name was too similar. But it's open-source and you should find the program and the code elsewhere).
Jump n' Bump – A simple but cute and fun to play game for up to 4 players. You will play a cute bunny and must jump on the other bunnies to kill them.
MicroRacers – UNDER DEVELOPMENT – A cute racing game with little cars.Very much like the famous "Micro Machines". Can't wait for the first playable version. (Actually I think you can play but no multiplayer game yet.

Linux distributions

Mainstream Distributions
- Ubuntu This is the first Linux distro that "just works". Instead of trying to make Linux look like Windows, the creators of Ubuntu have made Linux usable for newbies and pros a like. After a easy and smooth installation, you'll get an easy to use system. Then if you're a pro you can tweak it in any way you want.
- KNOPPIX A free live CD distro that can be installed on your hard drive. Knoppix is a lot more than just a distro (see "Portable Distributions" below for more on Knoppix).
- Debian GNU/Linux – Probably the best distribution as far as stability and power, however Debian itself is for professionals and very hard to intall, but I had to introduce it because the best distros out there are based on Debian:
  - Libranet is a very easy to install distro that is more like the original Debian. It comes with original programs and desktop environments rather than modified versions. The "previous" version is always free. And by the way it's a Canadian distro!
  - Xandros is a commercial distro but you can now get their Open Circulation Edition for free.
  - Lycoris and Linspire (formerly: Lindows) are also non-free distros based on Debian that are meant to be easy to use, specially for Windows users. Lycoris can be downloaded for free and costs less than Linspire, but Linspire is more popular. Unfortunately Lycoris always uses (much) older versions of KDE.
- Mandrakelinux – My other favorite. Easy to use, install and configure, great support for most languages, many support web sites and thanks to contributors a great selection of packages are available.
- SuSE Linux – Easy to install, easy to configure and use, powerful. Perfect for beginners. Unfortunately you can't download ISO images but you can use FTP install or (legally) copy the CDs. Also the selection of packages is not that great. Nevertheless one of the best commercial distros out there. Great for businesses.
- Ark Linux – Originally based on RedHat but with great package management of Debian, ease of setup and use and only a selection of the best programs in just one CD, Ark is still in Alpha stages but soon will be the distro I'll absolutely recommend to home users. So keep and eye for it!
- Fedora (RedHat) – RedHat (probably the most known Linux company stopped supporting RedHat Linux, instead they started this free project. Fedora is under development but it's supposed to be an easy to use distribution like Mandrake and SuSE.
- Gentoo Linux – It will compile on your system so it can take advantage of all the features on your system. Distro of choice for geeks!
- Yoper – Supports packages from other famous distributions. Ideal if you don't know how to compile the source codes. This is a single CD distribution. Great for people transferring from Windows.
- Peanut Linux – A small distribution with lots of great software! I haven't tried it, but I've heard it's a little harder to setup than Mandrake.
- Ark Linux – Based on Red Hat, but they claim it's easier to install.
Portable Distributions
- KNOPPIX – A complete Debian-based Linux distro that runs from one CD. Great for demo, checking if certain hardware is Linux compatible, recovering your Linux or Windows system, resizing and imaging partitions or as portable distro (you can store your personal files on a flash memory, floppy drive or a Windows hard drive) and last but not least install it on your hard drive for a very easy to install Debian system! See Knoppix install to hard disk HOW-TO for more details.
- Linuxcare – Linux that runs from Business Card CDs
- Nuclinux – A small distribution that contains lots of net tools on one floppy.
- Coyote Linux (Router) – Create a complete Linux system on one floppy using a nice wizard in Windows or Linux and turn your old PC into an internet gateway and firewall. It is very powerful and fast, includes remote access and lets you customize or add additional services.
Distributions that run with Windows
(For Windows users who want to try Linux.)
- Phat Linux – A ready to use Linux that runs on Windows without making any changes at all to your system. Based on Mandrake. What I started off with!
- WinLinux – Just like Phat, except it uses Windows to get your hardware information. I found it somehow troublesome so I recommend Phat or Knoppix (see below).
Other Distributions (Made for a special purpose)
- XBox Linux – The name says it all. Turns your X-Box system into a PC.
- BlackRhino – Turns your Sony Play-station 2 into a PC.
- ClarkConnect – This is a full featured gateway that turns any computer into a powerful Internet gateway. If you are just looking for a normal residential or even business gateway/firewall I recommend Coyote Linux, see "Portable distributions" above for details.
- Tiny Linux – Runs on older systems to put them in some use!
- Core Linux Distribution – This is Linux without the extras. You will add whatever you need.

Linux Links

Linux.org – Contains links to all distributions and the kernel source. They also have excellent on-line tutorials for Linux.
KDE Apps – This is the place to look for KDE themes, icons, background pictures, screen savers, mouse pointers, etc.
KDE Apps – This is a good place to look for KDE programs.
Linux Guides – A collection of Linux guides from Linux HeadQuarters.
The Linux FAQ – A nice collection of Linux frequently asked questions!
PCLinuxOnline – One of my favorite Linux sites. News and other information. Plus they create great RPMs for Mandrake.
DesktopLinux.com – Every year they rate all desktop Linux distributions. They also have forums, news, reviews and list of Linux PDAs.
LinuxQuestions.org – Nice forums. I found solutions to most of my problems on this site.
Linux International – I don't visit this site much but they host The Linux Counter that shows the number of Linux users who have registered on the counter.
TryLinuxSD.com – Great Mandrake Linux and KDE tips.
Linux.ca – The Canadian Linux User Exchange. Mostly I check out their site for the next Linux expo in Toronto! They also host TLUG: the Toronto Linux Users Group.
LinuxIran.org – Linux and open source in Iran.

Programmer's Links

OSDN – Open Source Development Network.
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures – A quick definition of every algorithm and structure. Search or browse by index.
Java.Sun.com – (The new) Sun Java home page.
NEdit – Simply one of the best UNIX editors for programming.
Python.org – The official site of the Python language.
Cygwin.com – Great Unix/Xfree86 Emulator for Windows with every GNU tool you can imagine!
Crimson Editor – Great editor for Windows programmers.
Digital Mars C and C++ Compiler – A great C/C++ Compiler for Windows.