A Bare-Bones Linux+Mono+GUI Distro? 158
nimble99 writes "I am a computer software engineer, focused mainly on the Windows platform — but most of my development time is spent in .NET. I would like to move my .NET development to Linux in the form of Mono, in an attempt at building a media-center type of device. All I require, is a base operating system with simple hardware support, Mono, and a window manager that (preferably) does nothing but act as a host for mono applications. Is this available? I dont know a lot about Linux, so I thought I would ask if there is already something like this available. Obviously a 'Mono Operating System' would be the cleanest solution, but a similar thing could be achieved with the barest minimum of Linux distros right?"
Re:Don't. (Score:5, Interesting)
As a user, I am philosophically opposed to Mono as an unwanted Windows fingerprint on my completely FOSS system (except for my nVidia drivers; alas, I am not perfect).
As a developer, I am so completely convinced of the superiority of the
I'm thinking about developing a split personality to deal with this paradox.
Re:Don't. (Score:5, Interesting)
Look at Debian Live (Score:5, Interesting)
You also have the ability to build images for CD-Rom's, usb sticks, netboot or hard drive images.
If you are not familiar with Linux, this route may be like jumping into the deep end. As others have mentioned, you may be better off using a canned distro like Monoppix [monoppix.com] while you do your development so you know exactly what you need in the end. Once you are comfortable and ready to move toward your final product, look towards Debian live.
OK, I'll bite... (Score:3, Interesting)
I dont know a lot about Linux, so I thought I would ask if there is already something like this available.
Anyway, here is my suggestion, but, as another poster has already pointed out, any Linux/GUI permutation would probably work just as well:
Some people would argue that using Slackware for this is crazy, but (a) Slackware is a lean and mean developement platform, and a very lean Linux distribution and (b) it will teach you a lot of things about Linux, and UNIX in general.
I hope this helps!
Just use MythTV. (Score:-1, Interesting)
The question was how to build a media PC with mono. The answer is you can't and that the purpose is better filled with MythTV, a mature project, than it is trying to rewrite it in .NET. Vista's DRM makes media a headache [slashdot.org]. There is no way M$ will share enough information, keys or patents for Mono to work even that well. Just skip the whole mess and learn to modify the thing that works and does not listen to the broadcast flag.
Re:Don't. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Don't. (Score:3, Interesting)
And I'd bet money that I'm far from alone in thinking this.
Re:OK, I'll bite... (Score:3, Interesting)
I dont know a lot about Linux, so I thought I would ask if there is already something like this available.
Like a lot of Slashdotters, I get paid for coding, and so I use C# and
Linux is perfect target environment for the kind of (ambitious) pet project he has in mind, it's far more suitable than Windows for repurposing older kit or scratch building, it has no cost or licensing hassles, drivers are built in, and everything is open.
Of course the same thing means Mono might well be a problem for Microsoft. While developers like us might get paid for running XP + VS 2008, it does't take us much extra coding to deploy to Linux and Mono, and, unlike desktops, the kit that does the databases, web services and ASP.NET hosting doesn't have bundled Windows licenses. In fact, Windows server is a 450 quid option on a 500 quid server. That kind of margin pays for quite a few hours testing.
Re:Don't. (Score:1, Interesting)
It's written in C#, and using third party physics libraries and translating LSL for scripting. (We also support other languages in the server as well.) We use Mono and it works just fine. In fact, because of the way
Once you get over the "microsoft is an epic patent troll" shit it's actually a very well designed system, WinForms not withstanding.