 |
Frequently |
I get a lot of email generated by the Linux Apps List, and
certain questions and/or requests seem to show up repeatedly. This
FAQ is presented as an effort to provide answers to many of the most
common questions and suggestions I get.
If your question or comment isn't addressed here, feel free to
 email me. I try to
answer all my mail, but depending on my work schedule, I can't guarantee
a quick response. I do, however, read all mail sent to me, and save requests
for new listings and corrections to existing links for incorporation
into the next update, and all suggestions are logged. |
| Last updated December 27, 1998 |
1. Why isn't program "xyz" listed? It's great and I use it all the time.
2. Will you change the link to "xyz"? The link is dead, moved, etc....
3. Would you reclassify "xyz"? It's not really what you say it is.
4. Why don't you add a search engine? It's hard to find what I want.
5. How do I tell whether programs are commercial, shareware, free, etc..?
6. How often do you update the Linux Apps List?
7. How can I become a mirror for the Linux Apps List?
8. Where can I find Linux on the net? Which version is best?
9. Can you distribute my program "xyz" via your site? It's really neat.
10. Can you help me find "xyz? I can't find it on the net or your list.
11. Who are you guys? Do you work for Red Hat, Caldera, etc.....?
12. Are you a Linux expert? I have an install, config, etc.... problem.
13. LINUX APPS LIST QUICK FINDER INDEX and RETURN LINKS
1. Why isn't program "xyz" listed? It's great and I use it all the time.
There are a couple of reasons why a particular program might not be listed. One is because the program doesn't have a web page describing it. There are 2.3 kajillion Linux programs available at the various ftp archives, as well as user ftp sites. I can't possibly find and list them all while still putting food on the table. At the same time, it doesn't make much sense to me to duplicate the indexes of archives like sunsite or tsx-ll. One of the reasons the descriptions accompanying the listings are so short is because the web page should tell you the details about the program. My criteria for listing a program is very simple. If a program runs under Linux, and has a web page, I'll list it.
Another possible reason is because the program has a web page but I don't know about it. Write and tell me, and I'll be happy to list it. Many of the listings come from user's or author's email tips. I track a couple newsgroups and the Linux Journal, but there is no guarantee that the program will be mentioned there.
2. Will you change the link to "xyz"? The link is dead, moved, etc...
I'll be happy to. If you find a bad link, let me know. I try to keep the links current, but given the rapid changes in domain names and author's homes, it's not uncommon for me to be unaware of a change. It's not easy keeping continuous track of upwards of 1500 links, so any help is much appreciated. One point to keep in mind: sometimes a link that appears bad may be the result of temporary server problems. Unless there is a notice explicitly stating that the page has moved or died, try back in a day or two, and see if you can connect. If it's still no go, let me know.
3. Would you reclassify "xyz"? It's not really what you say it is.
Unless the category a program belongs in is intuitively obvious, or the author makes a specific recommendation, I use my best judgment to classify programs. Sometimes a program could legitimately be placed in any of a number of categories. In these cases, I try to decide the "best" spot based on the features I think the program emphasizes. Hard as it is to believe, I have been known to make errors. If you think a program is in the wrong place, write and tell me why. If your case makes sense, I'll move it. I always defer to the wishes of the program's author.
4. Why don't you add a search engine? It's hard to find what I want.
This is probably the most common suggestion I get, and it's a good one. A search engine for the list is at the top of my "to do" list. All I can say at this point is that I hear you, and am actively looking into it. I have some ideas, and I hope that they pan out, but I can make no promises about when, or if, searching might appear.
One other point to keep in mind is that I am not the webmaster or system administrator at my home site. I'm just a more-or-less typical "user" with a very accommodating ISP. In practical terms this means that I am very limited in what I can and cannot do. Essentially, anything beyond basic cgi scripts is unavailable to me. If you know of something that might work, I'm all ears.
In the mean time, you can always use the find capabilities built into your browser. I know that this is a less than satisfactory method, but right now there isn't any alternative.
5. How do I tell whether programs are commercial, shareware, free, etc..?
You may have noticed the dollar sign ($) in some of the circles to the left of the program listings. (Depending on your video resolution they may just look like squiggly white things, but you get the idea). These designate programs that will cost you money. The criteria for assigning a $ to a program is a little subjective, but hopefully consistent. If the current, fully functional, Linux version of a program, for personal use, requires a monetary payment of some kind, the circle gets a $. This sounds simpler than it is. With shareware licenses, commercial licenses, evaluation versions, beta versions, split licenses, freeware, GNU, and public domain licenses, things can get pretty convoluted in a hurry. A couple examples may help clarify things:
A program, let's call it "N", has fully featured, untimed versions available for download. For a number of operating systems the publishers of "N" expect you to register and pay. But the Linux version is "unsupported" and not actually "sold". No $. Another program, let's call it "X", is free for personal use but costs money if it will be used commercially. No $. Finally, "C" has an older version available for free use, but the latest version is available only by buying it. It gets a $. Simple, eh?
I have tried to confirm the status of all the programs on the list, but it's possible that you may run across one that is incorrectly marked. If so, just let me know, and I'll revise the listing.
Note that many of the programs marked with '$' have demo or evaluation or feature-limited or older versions available at no cost. Don't give up on a program that interests you just because it's marked with a '$'.
Finally, keep in mind that if you are uncertain about the terms under which you can use a program, always check with the author or publisher
6. How often do you update the Linux Apps List?
As often as I can. I'm going to be making a concerted effort to update the list at least every 4-6 weeks, but given the way the list is maintained, I can't state a hard and fast schedule and promise to keep to it. (See Question 11).
7. How can I become a mirror site for the Linux Apps List?
Write to me and ask. I don't really have many specific requirements for mirroring the list, except for requiring a certain amount of information about the host site and administrator, and a pledge from you to load the updated pages within a few days of their being made available. There are no "exclusive territories". You can see the type of information I ask for by looking at the current mirrors on the Mirrors Page. All I ask is that you not change anything on the list or add anything to it without my permission. You may, if you wish, add a link back to one of your pages at the bottom of the main Linux Apps List page.
As soon as you send me the info I need, and I confirm that your site is up, I'll add you to the Mirrors page and put you on the mailing list.
I email each of the site administrators each time an update is made available, and have an http site as well as several ftp sites where the latest versions of the pages can always be found.
I do need you to commit to loading the updates on your site as soon as they come out. It's only fair to the users of the list, and it makes my life much easier by not having to explain to them that the dead or moved link they're writing to me about was changed a month ago. Unless you write and ask for an extension, any mirror not updated within a week or so of being notified that a new list has been published will be dropped from the mirrors list.
The pages and graphics take up less than 1MB of disk space, no Java or cgi scripts are used, and I try to use a common set of graphics as far as possible, so the hardware requirements for mirroring the list are pretty small, and the impact on your server shouldn't be too great.
8. Where can I find Linux on the net? Which version is best?
There are a number of archive sites and distributors with ftp sites where you can download Linux, though unless you have an ISDN connection or better I think spending the couple bucks for a CD is well worth the savings in time and trouble. Take a look at the FTP Archives and Distribution Sources on the Linux and UNIX Resources page for locations where you can get Linux off the net.
If you're just getting into Linux, or thinking about taking the plunge, there is a host of information available on the web that you really owe it to yourself to look into, as it will answer many of the questions you may have about what Linux is, hardware requirements, etc. For new users, the most important of these are the Linux FAQ, the Linux Information Sheet, the Linux Meta-FAQ, and the Linux Installation HOWTO. All of them should be considered required reading.
As for which distribution is "best", that's about as subjective as you can get. I happen to use Red Hat, and like it, but many others like Slackware or Debian or Caldera or SuSE or any number of others. A case could be made for any of them being the "best", depending on what it is that you consider important in a Linux distribution. For more information, including brief discussions of the various distributions, take a look at the Linux Distribution HOWTO at the Linux Documentation Project Home.
9. Can you distribute my program "xyz" via your site? It's really neat.
In a word, no. Sorry, but I don't have the facilities available to me to serve as an ftp site for your programs. The best advice I can give to you is to upload it to one of the major Linux ftp sites, like sunsite, and send an announcement to comp.os.linux.announce. If you do that and slap together a simple web page describing your program and where to get it, write me and I'll put it in the list.
10. Can you help me find "xyz? I can't find it on the net or your list.
Maybe. When someone asks my help in finding a program not on the list, there are a couple sources that I use that every Linux user should be aware of. The principal ones are the Linux Software Map, the UI Archive linux/sunsite Index Browser and the Linux NOW! File Library. Although there is quite a bit of overlap among these, they are pretty easy to search, and contain literally thousands of listings. They tend to be limited, however, to freely available programs at the major ftp sites, and may or may not tell you much about the programs. Many times, the best way to locate a program is to ask about it on one of the Linux newsgroups, like comp.os.linux.misc.
Another excellent resource, particularly for programs and tools with a scientific or engineering emphasis, is the Scientific Applications for Linux (SAL) site.
11. Who are you guys? Do you work for Red Hat, Caldera, etc.....?
"You guys" are me, Bill Latura (a.k.a. Runtime Systems). I built and continue to maintain the Linux Apps List by myself, as a hobby, during my free time. I work at a full time non-computer or web related job, so depending on what else is going on in my life, (and yes, I do have one that I like very much, thank you) the Linux Apps List may, at times, have to wait. If you're really interested in my particulars, or simply want to kill time, you can check out my bio page.
I don't work for Red Hat, Caldera, or anybody else where my page might appear. Those folks have simply been kind enough to mirror my pages, so all questions or comments about their products or web pages should be sent to them, and all questions or comments about the Linux Apps List should be sent to me.
12. Are you a Linux expert? I have an install, config, etc.... problem.
I'd classify myself as an advanced amateur. I've installed and configured Linux on several PC's, feel quite comfortable working in UNIX, have mucked around in virtually all the various resource and config files, have set up X and PPP, and have a 3 PC TCP/IP network running, but I am by no means an expert. I've used very few of the programs in the list, and do not delude myself that I'm competent to debug kernel errors.
If you're having serious problems, you'll probably have better luck asking on the newsgroups, or checking out the information available through the Linux and UNIX Resources Page, though I'll help if I can. Another excellent source of information are the various Guides, HOWTO's, mini-HOWTO's and FAQ's available at the Linux Documentation Project Homepage. Every Linux user should bookmark that page.
