The "Linux questions (and other stuff)" thread

[Deleted User]

In my humble opinion, and experience, you're allocating a lot more space to your / partitions than you'll ever need. Personally, I wouldn't make it more than 50GB, and even that is ridiculously huge.

I've got an 83G root partition on my Ubuntu system. It currently has 69G available, so I'll probably reallocate some of that space to /home at some point.

 

[Dngrsone]

In my humble opinion, and experience, you're allocating a lot more space to your / partitions than you'll ever need. Personally, I wouldn't make it more than 50GB, and even that is ridiculously huge.

Hm. I'll have look at that. I calculated the usage of both partitions together, but didn't look at the usage of the root partitions alone.

 

[GameTheory]

It was interesting to see you folks' drive configs. I have my xubuntu setup split among 3 drives:

1. 128gb SSD for the OS and some apps. (108gb free space)
2. 250gb HDD for Android Studio and all its' caching and projects and some apps.
3. 250gb HDD for miscellaneous storage, linked to chrome browser for its' caching and downloads, and for compiling kernel sources.

This makes it super easy and quick if I decide to switch to another distro since only the OS and a few apps are on the main drive. Also prolongs the SSD since writes are very limited with this config.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I've been following the exact same partitioning scheme for decades(?) now, and it works really well for me.

On any hard drive, its partitions consist of:
/
/home
/data
[swap space]

The sizes have changed over the years, of course, as hard drives have gotten bigger. I allocate a very small percentage to its / partition--never more than 50GB, and even that is excessive.

/home probably gets about 30%.

/data gets the majority of space--it's where photos, videos, downloads, etc., live.

Swap space is really just an old habit now; I've heard it's not actually necessary any more. Perhaps when I get my next computer, I'll kiss swap goodbye!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hm. I'll have look at that. I calculated the usage of both partitions together, but didn't look at the usage of the root partitions alone.

Your root partitions really don't need a lot of space, especially if you're installing programs elsewhere. I mean programs other than the OS. The OS isn't a big, bloated, space-eating monster...like some other OSes. So its space requirements are quite meager.

Naturally, you want to allow space for programs you'll install in the future, but anything >50GB is just unnecessary.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I've got an 83G root partition on my Ubuntu system. It currently has 69G available

Yeah, that sounds about right.

so I'll probably reallocate some of that space to /home at some point.

That's what I'd do. Well, sort of--I'd put it in /data, but it's the same idea.

 

[Dngrsone]

So, I took a look, and of the root partitions, the heaviest is just shy of 23GB, so yes, it looks like I could shave that down to 50GB easy.

Meanwhile, I managed to break my bootup of Mint 18.1 KDE somehow... I'll have to read the fine print more thoroughly to understand what exactly is wrong/missing to cause the kernel panic.

Also, it turns out that rEFInd does not have a native xfs driver, which is why it is not seeing Kaos as bootable. I found a driver, but it seems to break rEFInd. Luckily, I have the Neon Grub still there and that loads up after rEFInd dies.

In fact, I gleaned a few tidbits from that grub.cfg so that I can hopefully build a bootup script into rEFInd, but I am so nervous about doing this and breaking things hard-core.

Part of the issue is that each OS does things differently, even different forks of Ubuntu; so I have some booting straight from the /boot partition, others boot from their own root partition /boot folders... my /boot partition is 100MB, and that is apparently no longer a viable size, as it is full, and I'm kind of surprised the last OS install actually worked with it. Maybe that's why some of the OSes are booting off their root partitions?

I guess I should allocate something like 500MB on the next iteration...

 

[Deleted User]

I saw an article that said windows now includes linux in the windows app store.

Do you mean the Windows 10 bash? It's like the opposite of Wine.
Here's more info

https://www.howtogeek.com/249966/how-to-install-and-use-the-linux-bash-shell-on-windows-10/

 

[GameTheory]

Do you mean the Windows 10 bash? It's like the opposite of Wine.
Here's more info

https://www.howtogeek.com/249966/how-to-install-and-use-the-linux-bash-shell-on-windows-10/

Interesting. It could quite possibly be that what I saw which in this case wouldn't be useful.

That's a pretty big step for windows users. Seems like a better solution than Cygwin which I think attempted to do the same thing?

Ok I had enough windows talk for one day. It's about all I can take.

 

[Deleted User]

That's a pretty big step for windows users. Seems like a better solution than Cygwin which I think attempted to do the same thing?

It is a big thing for Windows users. But Bash window is a different animal to Cygwin, which is a more feature rich environment. The Bash shell is more integrated with Windows, and has some basic utilities.

But yeah that's me maxed out with Win talk for today - now back to the usual programmes
If you like we can take this discussion to the Linux thread, but I don't how @MoodyBlues would react to polluting that discussion with Windows garbage

https://androidforums.com/threads/the-linux-questions-and-other-stuff-thread.677807/

 

[MoodyBlues]

If you like we can take this discussion to the Linux thread, but I don't how @MoodyBlues would react to polluting that discussion with Windows garbage

No worries!

Anything that's Linux-related is fine there, IMHO.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hi there, @RealMacleod! I heard my name, so I dropped in. I have some thoughts I'd like to share.

Oh, please, no! Please, don't tell me about Linux

We're just trying to help. Suggesting that you use an OS that is more stable, secure, powerful, and customizable than the one you're using is a good thing.

But aside from that, you're developing Linux (Android) apps--it could be a huge plus if you used and learned about Linux in its native form. Understanding how things work in Linux, like how its file system is arranged and named, would be useful in creating Android apps.

I have too many things to do on my PC. Gaming, photoshop, 3dMAX and so on.

Are you aware that Linux has thousands of native apps? Apps that are as good as, or better than, their counterparts on other OSes? For example, the GIMP can replace Photoshop.

I know nothing about "3dMAX"--but there may be a Linux alternative.

Most Linux software is free, and easily installed with a click or two from one's favorite package manager, such as mine, Synaptic.

Some games played on other OSes have native Linux counterparts; those that don't may be playable via wine. I used to play Roller Coaster Tycoon that way, and it ran like a dream! There are also tons of Linux-only games, installable as described above, with a few clicks.

Maybe it is a good idea to install Linux on VM, but I have heard a lot about the bad stability of such system types. I also think that Androd virtual device may cause troubles in this case because it takes to much resources

I know nothing about that or, really, dual-booting (which I haven't done since...1994(?)), but if others are suggesting it, rest assured they know what they're talking about.

I'll finish by saying that modern Linux distros range from easy-peasy (aimed at transitioning windows users) to those aimed at hardcore *nix geeks.

Once you find out how fast, secure, beautiful, stable and reliable it is--and that, unlike windows, you're in complete control--you're likely to make it your only OS. Everything in my house runs [some variation of] Linux! Two desktop computers, two laptops, one tablet, two smartphones, and two DVRs. Maybe my microwave and range, too.

If you have any questions at all, please join us in the Linux mega-thread!

 

[MoodyBlues]

Debated whether to put this here or in Android Lounge.

I discovered, and started using, KDE Connect recently. It involves installing the app on your Android device, and its matching program on your Linux computer.

I don't recall anything extraordinary or unusual about setting it up. I just installed both programs, they saw each other on the network, I paired them, and that was that. Some of its features didn't work, but I hadn't had a chance to investigate.

Then it stopped working. The phone said the computer wasn't reachable, and the computer showed no paired devices. A reboot of the laptop brought it back to life.

But now it's just not working. Neither device sees the other; I'm told all devices must be on the same network (they are); in its KDE settings, where there used to be the phone's name on the left and a list of its features to choose from on the right, is now completely blank.

On the phone, I've tried manually connecting using the laptop's IP address, to no avail.

I've cleared cache/data, forced stop, uninstalled and reinstalled the app. Nada.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Linux program. Zip.

I've disconnected/reconnected to the network, in various combinations. Zilch.

Ideas? I'm fresh out of them. It's a really cool app; its features that did work were useful and/or fun. I'd like to keep using it.

 

[Deleted User]

Debated whether to put this here or in Android Lounge.

I discovered, and started using, KDE Connect recently. It involves installing the app on your Android device, and its matching program on your Linux computer.

I don't recall anything extraordinary or unusual about setting it up. I just installed both programs, they saw each other on the network, I paired them, and that was that. Some of its features didn't work, but I hadn't had a chance to investigate.

Then it stopped working. The phone said the computer wasn't reachable, and the computer showed no paired devices. A reboot of the laptop brought it back to life.

But now it's just not working. Neither device sees the other; I'm told all devices must be on the same network (they are); in its KDE settings, where there used to be the phone's name on the left and a list of its features to choose from on the right, is now completely blank.

On the phone, I've tried manually connecting using the laptop's IP address, to no avail.

I've cleared cache/data, forced stop, uninstalled and reinstalled the app. Nada.

I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Linux program. Zip.

I've disconnected/reconnected to the network, in various combinations. Zilch.

Ideas? I'm fresh out of them. It's a really cool app; its features that did work were useful and/or fun. I'd like to keep using it.

Seems like other people are having problems with it too. Have you tried messaging the devs?

new version can't see and/or connect to KDE on Ubuntu. Updated to 1.12.4 no joy. doesn't see my Linux desktop. Using Samsung A5 with latest OS update.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Seems like other people are having problems with it too. Have you tried messaging the devs?

No, not yet. I had started looking around online before my little [hospitalization] adventure, and am just now getting back to it. Was hoping someone here might have some ideas, first.

It's frustrating. It reminds me of the bane of my existence, window$ boxes I had to administer at my final job. Some bizarre, inexplicable, totally illogical thing would come up, and it was like...WTF do I do when EVERYTHING is already correctly configured?!

 

[Dngrsone]

So, what kind of things does it do?

Considering I have an Android phone and KDE (currently Neon) laptop, I might be interested in trying it out.

***Edit: Already installed in Neon. Added it to my phone, and it works.

First issue I discovered is that although both devices were connected to the same network, since my AP has two different nodes (2.5GHz, 5GHz), they both have to be attached to the same node.

In other words, if my lappy is on network Bing, then the phone also has to be connected to wifi Bing, even though wifi Crosby is part of the same network.

Yeah I just wrote that sentence and it doesn't even make sense to me.

Just make sure you are using the same AP (frequency/name) for both.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Already installed in Neon. Added it to my phone, and it works.

It's cool, right? Do all of its phone features work for you? They didn't for me. Sending files worked great, as did phone notifications popping up on the computer's screen. But gestures (moving the computer's pointer, for example) didn't work at all.

Yes, they're definitely on the same network. There's only one, and it's the same one it was working on before. No idea why it stopped.

 

[Dngrsone]

Hrm. No idea, unless your phone ID is hidden, maybe?

I haven't done much with it yet. Ring the phone works, so does transfer from phone to computer. Learning how to add folders for the computer to access; I suppose it's too much to expect to be able to move books from Calibre to the device, but it's something I'll ry to make work.

 

[Dngrsone]

So, tried reconnecting to the computer using KDE Connect. No joy.

I had to change networks for it to recognize the computer. Slow AF tho-- the lag when say, surfing my camera folder, and then opening a pic...

Apparently, you can do this via BT now, too, but it hasn't worked for me so far. I want it to work, though! I never have my wifi on (on the phone, that is).

 

[GameTheory]

@LV426
Have you updated your linux system past java 8?

I'm still on 8, but it reached EOL in January. All works fine, but I'm thinking of setting aside some time to update to java 11. Been using the Oracle version for many years instead of openjdk.

Interesting info in these links:
https://blog.codefx.org/java/java-11-migration-guide/
https://www.baeldung.com/oracle-jdk-vs-openjdk

 

[Deleted User]

No still on Java 8. But I should also upgrade.
I tend to stay with OpenJDK, as there's no chance of infringing Oracle's licensing in some way.
Thanks for the links.

 

[GameTheory]

Gonna try upgrading to java 11(though just saw 12 is available) tonight or tomorrow morning. I'll post back with the results.

 

[Deleted User]

Cheers. Be interested to know if you hit any problems.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Hrm. No idea, unless your phone ID is hidden, maybe?

Hidden? Hidden where/how?

Nothing changed from one day--when KDE Connect worked, to the next--when neither the phone nor laptop can see each other.

I've done some looking around online, but nothing applies to, or helps, me.

 

[MoodyBlues]

So, tried reconnecting to the computer using KDE Connect. No joy.

I had to change networks for it to recognize the computer.

That's weird. So, what, it just stopped working? Neither device could see the other?

Unfortunately, I can't change networks. I just have the one they both worked fine with...and then didn't.

Slow AF tho-- the lag when say, surfing my camera folder, and then opening a pic...

Mine was very fast...for the features that worked, like file transfers...until it inexplicably stopped working.