Second Live Linux Client

I was talking with a friend -- *waves to Khamon Fate* -- about this yesterday, and thought I'd bring it up here... Does Linden Labs intend to ever release a Linux client for SL? I ask, because if they aren't thinking about it, I would like to suggest they do. That may sound presumptuous, but allow me to expouind.

When I was discussing a Linux client with Khamot, he brought up a very good point: Not all Linux setups are similar, and even those running the same software (e.g., X) are configured so differently that creating a Second Life client would not be worth the time. Given that I have spent time downloading, making, comfiguring, and downloading more to get X running, I agree with him.

However, there is a way around this: a Live Linux CD. I prefer, in this instance, calling it a "Second Live Linux Disc" (SLLD). Basically, just take Knoppix strip it down to the essentials: Linux, X, video drivers, sound drivers, network drivers, and a SL client loader -- I say a loader and not the client because if you had a client burned in the CD, you'd have to reburn the CD everytime they upgraded. Or maybe you could keep the client on your HDD and it could grab it from there.

Basically, the computer could boot using the SLLC, the client would be (down)loaded, and you could play SL from Linux.

So, um, any chance of this? It wouldn't be a far jump from the OS X client. Heck, our next Linux Users Group meeting is about making a Live CD. I'll volunteer my time looking into making an SLLD if there's any chance of Linden Labs making a Linux client.

Please.

EDITED:

Fine, Ama, have it your way. I *really* didn't need that sort of bullshit right now.

My apologies then James.

The post I was remembering is from here:
/invalid_link.html

Wherein Pheonix Linden states : "The Linux client is not currently in active development." as of 11-06-2003. That is admitidly almost a month ago and does not preclude one from being planned, as I had misquoted.

As much as I would like to add 'drove a SL member away from SL' to my accomplishements ( <- sarcasm ) it would be really silly for you to leave because of anything I did. My SecondLife account expires mid December and I have made it fairly obvious elsewhere that I am not continuing it at this time.

i'm not a linden either. but if i was going to produce a linux client for sl, i'd be inclined to base it on one of the newer desktop environments that run on X e.g. KDE. the client could then assume fairly standard settings and let KDE deal with X.

the live distro's not a bad idea though. that would work if it could mount a preformatted partition on the hard drive to write the downloaded client to. there would also need to be a swap partition on the hd before the distro loaded so there'd be some prep work to do. but wouldn't it be called the second LIFE live linux distro (SLLLD)? or am i thinking that i'd rather walk next door to maryjane's second life live disco?

ama's right though. they have said recently that no linux client was in the works. too bad. there seem to be a lot of slashdotters in world.

More the pity.

My offer to be a Live CD researcher stands in any Lindens want me to.

Just my 0.02 of whatever currency you prefer.

My last information regarding this was that no Linux client is in active development BECAUSE there are a limited number of developers and LL wanted to get the MAC OS client past beta before they commit themselves to another port, but that they fully intend to do so if and when possible.

Anyway, I too, wish they'd hurry up!

While I would greatly prefer a full-blown Linux client it would be enough for me to get the thing running under Wine/WineX. It wouldn't require a full-blown development team, just mindful programming with respect to Wine's limitations. After all, its OpenGL support is quite complete.

In its current state, the installer won't even function. A preinstalled copy will complain of already running copies. The Slashbots are restless.

[/B]

From my point of view, making a "Linux" client this way is pointless. I want a Linux client so I don't need to reboot my computer every time I want to play SL.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to boot like that either.

It'd be pretty cool to have SL work on Linux, I think I'd reinstall Linux if there was a way to reliably run on Linux. Using KDE would seem like a good way to go.

But...I guess there's no chance of a GNOME version, huh? (j/k I never used that lol)

It has been long rumored (if you can call it a rumor when it comes from the head of the company) that they were deffinitely going to do both a Linux and OS X version. As you may know, the servers themselves run Linux, the programmers include at least a few Linux lovers. I've heard that they actually do development work using Linux and (I may have inferred the following) that some of the pre-production testing is done using Linux.

They had to pick one to do first between OS X and Linux and probably decided that end-user support might be easier with OS X, since there is only one version (of OS X) that they will have to worry about. Much less variation than with the Linux distros.

My own theory is that they will get more users from Linux simply because there are so few (spelled "none" top tier games aimed at the Linux user base. Only time will tell though.

Unfortunately my OS X laptop does not have the cahones to run SL, but my current Windows machine dual-boots to Linux and as soon as SL runs there that Windows partition is getting made into /home directories. There will be dancing in the streets at my house on that wonderful day. Or something.

Actually, I'm not so sure thats would be a good idea. First of all I don't think the fancy 3D card interface stuff is handled by KDE anyway. It is possible (and desirable) to write an application that runs under KDE, Gnome and any of the other X-windows based desktop managers (Mozilla does this for example and looks and works fine in all environments).

Then there is that little issue of licensing. KDE started out as a closed source interface and later, under pressure went Open Source, but with some limitations. Many people find this objectionable and a whole lot of new work is going into standardizing the Gnome desktop. About half the things I run were written for Gnome, a few others are more KDE oriented and a couple (like Mozilla) are desktop neutral. My experience is that while KDE is the easiest for a Windows user to get used to (and I still use it most of the time) Gnome runs things a lot faster. But keep in mind, things written for KDE run fine under Gnome and visa versa, it just gets a little confusing if you haven't set desktop settings like fonts and color schemes similarly for both environments.

OpenGL is pretty standard across all flavors of Linux: either you're using the Mesa software version, or your video card vendor's binary drivers. SecondLife uses its own widget set, and my understanding is that everything else is pretty much windowmanager-neutral. There's no reason to limit it to just KDE, or just Gnome, or just anything else.

KDE sucks
fluxbox all the way, baby!
Anyone up for a window manager/text editor/linux distro flamewar?

Doesn't anyone else find it ironic that we're talking about GNOME here? You know....gnome/hippo bug conflict? Hello?

Eggy:
Vi PwNz emacs!

I dont understand why people insist on debating vi versus emacs - they both SUCK! Pico will roxor yo boxor though

Wow Eggy, you are really an incite-ful person these days

Pico is nice for those of us who cannot handle many commands in an editor. However, I have a hard time getting gdb to interface with it. Also, I haven't found a Win32 port of Pico, while I use emacs on windows (when necessary to use windows) because it has the same interface. But not xemacs - that really has **issues**


---------------------------------
vi, emacs - why do we have to bring religion into this?
GUI? Linux don't need no stinking GUI!
If any command requires more than two letters, it isn't Unix.

LOL I'm really a very quiet person you know. IRL I'm actually pretty shy.
Anyway I like pico cuz I cut my teeth on it... back when I was a freshman you read your email with pine on a monochrome vt320 featuring glorious orange fonts and the weirdest keyboard evar. I was first told to use joe, but heck did joe suck! So someone told me about pico and it ruled because I was already used to pine commands.
Try running emacs on a vt320 one of these days...
I've actually used emacs a lot, if only for the syntax highlighting but I still prefer the simplicity of pico. As for vi, the only thing I know about it is how to exit it without rebooting, which is more than your average first time user

Well, since the forums seem to automatically log you off after a period of inactivity and the message you're composing at the time is lost forever... I guess I will be more succinct this time.

The reason many people don't like KDE is because it uses the Qt windowing library. They're using it under a free open license but TrollTech also offers it under a paid (and very expensive) license for commercial projects. Many people think this creates a conflict of interest and taints the Qt library. Either way, KDE supports GTK and Gnome supports Qt. Neither windowing library will be used much in gaming anyway. They'd probably use SDL which hides the small amount of windowing-system specific code they'd require.

And, Pico? Really? That's like Visual Studio vs. C++ Builder... "I choose Notepad!"

When I first started using the Internet there was no GUI interface, so I used PICO and PINE, and Lynx I think (or something like it) for "web browsing". it's nice to have the basic commands listed at the bottom of the screen so you can get started using it without a manual nearby.

I like all the power built into emacs, but remembering all the cryptic key sequences is just too much for me. I can see it being handy on a true character mode terminal where you can use it do do compiles in the background etc, but these days I'd rather just keep two or three character mode windows open to accomplish the same thing.

Can you get out of vi by rebooting? I thought you had to throw the PC away and get a new one!

[/B]

Overheard: emacs stands for Escape Meta Alt Control Shift.

We were talking about some specific editor at lunch the other day. He mentioned he liked that it could hide indented scopes. My reply was more along the lines of "Hey, emacs can do that too!" "Yeah, how?"

My cheerful response was greeted by a chorus of laughter:
"Oh, it's easy! Just hit C-u 1 C-x $"

But back to the main point: Gimme SL for linux!

I wouldn't even mind if it couldn't support sounds, bump-mapping, local lighting or any of that glitzy stuff.

No sound? 0.o I could live without the other stuff but no sound??? gaH

Actually I agree, vi and emacs do basically suck. But I'm more of an M$VC person. I learned vi so you can bet that I'm not gonna bother with emacs unless I have a reason to.