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Okay, so I finally got a working Ubuntu virtual machine. It took me enough time and annoyances finding the right software (virtualbox works like a dream).

So now I’m ready to start, but I’ve got a clean install. What things should I download/install from the repositories?

I’m thinking:
-ftp manager
-some kind of LAMP
-php ide
...

Anybody got any tips?

Okay, scratch that. After one reboot, the whole things is messed up again: the top bar icons are all shuffled, I can’t get the my screen’s max resolution anymore… God, why is this so hard???

I gotta format my desktop soon anyhow, I think I’ll just install Vista on one HD and Ubuntu on the other. Maybe that’ll work properly.

You could do it the easy way and just install Ubuntu Server… it will set up a LAMP environment for you out of the box.

There is really little reason to go with the whole Linux desktop unless you really want to switch completely.  When I was a Windows user there were enough things I wanted to use in Windows that I didn’t want to switch.  Eventually I got so fed up with Vista that even those few things weren’t enough to keep me.

Here is what I did…

Installed Parallels and ran Ubuntu as a virtual machine.  That way I can use Linux along side Windows.  Dual booting is a pain in the ass.

-ftp manager
Nope, if you run Linux as I did, just SSH into the virtual machine.  This essentially gives you FTP capabilities.  Also, go to Magnetk and pick out an SFTP (comes with your SSH and works much like FTP but overall much better) client so that you can mount your Linux file-space as a drive to your host OS.

-some kind of LAMP
Stick with Apache / MySQL / PHP. 

Ubuntuguide and the Ubuntu forums is all you need.  Take a look at the fast LAMP install described here.

-php ide
Not sure about good IDE’s.  I prefer a good editor myself, but I haven’t really settled on one yet.  I seem to change every few months.  If you use the above mentioned method to mount the Linux files to a drive on your host OS then you can use whatever is compatible with that OS.  Currently I’m using Aptana Studio which is based on Eclipse.  It’s cross platform which means it works as well on Linux as it does on Windows. 

why is this so hard?

Welcome to Linux.  Get ready to be frustrated, curse and bitch about how Linux will never be mainstream.  I think it’s worth the pain though, and Ubuntu gets better for usability with every release.

why is this so hard?

Change.

I use Linux without Windows intervention for web development and use it for all of my computing activities for several years. I use LAMP, Eclipse and Kate as IDE. Shortly, for development, Linux is a great choice.

I like John’s suggestion: get Ubuntu Server on a VM and use SSH and SFTP (from within windows I guess?) to develop on it. This not only sounds comfortable to me, it would also learn me how to handle a VPS, to which I might switch in the future!

I use ubuntu 8.10 BETA with windows (dual boot) for programming and Vista for games and other stuff like photoshop for example. It’s a great software but I don’t think there’s a reason other than hating Microsoft and wanting to learn Ubuntu/linux (me) to make a complete replace and forget about Windows. I would LOVE that but Ubuntu/Linux still has a long road when it’s not about servers…

There are many things that makes you think back at windows when using Ubuntu/linux:

- CTRL + C is a pain in the ass (you have to hit it 5 times to make sure it will do the copy paste right)
- many of your favorite tools lack support on linux (like winamp for example, it’s not so important but you miss it. Of course there’s wine to emulate but it’s not the same)
- I do like to play from time to time to relax my brain. In my situation I have to restart and boot windows. There’s also Cedega to satisfy your gaming needs but why pay for something when the very nature of Linux got you to learn open source alternatives? At least if it was performing good or supporting all games. You could also load linux in a virtual machine but this still makes windows the base OS and linux the alternative.
- installing and locating things is a pain in the ass. Especially when you’re starting to learn it…
- SVN is a pain in the ass, Tortoise still is the best SVN I’ve worked with and it’s a windows thing so even developing remains tempting on windows.
- there’s no version to work smooth from start (when you install ubuntu) to finish (when you remove ubuntu). Every time there’s something to crash. I have am AMD6000+ with 6Gigs of ram, running the 64b version of ubuntu. My drivers are nowhere to be found…1024 M of video card memory without a good driver, the audio crashes every half an our.

Of course, there are good things to say also. Lots of them. The point was that it’s not yet the time… 😛

- many of your favorite tools lack support on linux (like winamp for example, it’s not so important but you miss it. Of course there’s wine to emulate but it’s not the same)

Winamp is a tool!??!

- installing and locating things is a pain in the ass. Especially when you’re starting to learn it…

Wow, I found this to be the exact opposite. Open up Synaptic package manager, choose the software I want to install and let it take care of the rest.  Of course, the alternative would be “sudo apt-get install packagename”.  I don’t see it getting much easier.

Although you may be referring to compiling from source.  If that’s the case, then sure, compiling from source can be a pain in the ass… but if you stick with the Debian package format (by using Synaptic above or finding a .deb file to install) then you’re good to go.

The point was that it’s not yet the time… 😛

I beg to differ.  Linux works.  There will never be a “time” for Linux, and I find that particular outlook to be misleading.  Linux is change and it requires a mindset willing to change, and yes, there are a lot of things that won’t work as well as in Windows (such as your native Windows games), but just like CI is a tool that fits a job, so is Linux.

Anybody got a guide or walkthough on how I need to setup Ubuntu Server in a virtual machine, with guidelines as to how to set it up so you can access it with ssh from the windows host?

oh?! Can you install Zend studio from the synaptic package manager or with “sudo apt-get install”? What about internet explorer or safari (we build websites right)? What about Adobe software (can you get around adobe?)? What about drivers since many of the hardware lack or refuse to provide drivers for linux?

I’m not trying to start a war between OS’s. This is my pure impression after working with ubuntu for more than 1 year. It’s a tool that fits a job, well said…Let’s not pretend it’s a tool that fits any job.

Anybody got a guide or walkthough on how I need to setup Ubuntu Server in a virtual machine, with guidelines as to how to set it up so you can access it with ssh from the windows host?

You will have hard times here as well. I remember trying this some while ago without any positive results. Of course there is a way. I can’t remember it right now 😛

Ubuntu Hardy - Setup Page 1: http://articles.slicehost.com/2008/4/25/ubuntu-hardy-setup-page-1

Ubuntu Hardy - Setup Page 2: http://articles.slicehost.com/2008/4/25/ubuntu-hardy-setup-page-2

A bunch of other awesome articles: http://articles.slicehost.com/ubuntu-hardy

Sure, these are hosted @ Slicehost and are meant to help users get their Slicehost accounts set up, but they’re awesome articles and work in any situation / environment.

It’s not about hating Windows but it’s about choose the best suitable for our needs and our own favorite OS. Of course, it could be different for anyone to choose Linux or Windows. In addition, there is a philosophy in Linux, it’s Open Source while Microsoft also see Open Source currently but of course for their commercial aim. Besides for Server, Linux is a paradise for a programmer but for gamer, Linux is not number one.

I erase Windows in my PC (I used Windows), because a price of a license is very high for me and i don’t want to use an illegal copy. I live in Indonesia and for most of people in my country, Windows price is very high, so some of them choose an illegal copy but i think Linux (Open source version)is the right choice for us, while we can get and distribute it freely including price also other benefits such as Linux is more resist from virus. There are other reasons why people choose Linux but not about hating Windows.

oh?! Can you install Zend studio from the synaptic package manager or with “sudo apt-get install”?

No, you cannot.  However, the Linux version of Zend Studio comes as a simple .bin file that you simply install the same as you would an .exe file in Windows.

What about drivers since many of the hardware lack or refuse to provide drivers for linux?

It’s all about choice.  I would rather choose hardware manufacturers that support Linux over those who don’t.

I’m not trying to start a war between OS’s. This is my pure impression after working with ubuntu for more than 1 year. It’s a tool that fits a job, well said…Let’s not pretend it’s a tool that fits any job.

I’m not trying to start a war either - I’m just giving another view from the other side of the fence.  I’m not pretending that it’s a tool to fit any job.  It’s all about choice.

Anybody got a guide or walkthough on how I need to setup Ubuntu Server in a virtual machine, with guidelines as to how to set it up so you can access it with ssh from the windows host?

You will have hard times here as well. I remember trying this some while ago.

See my previous post.

Anybody got a guide or walkthough on how I need to setup Ubuntu Server in a virtual machine, with guidelines as to how to set it up so you can access it with ssh from the windows host?

You access the Linux VM with PuTTY. 

The installation on the VM should be simple.  The docs on the VM are probably more relevant.  For instance, if you go with Parallels, you should probably read the Parallels docs on how to get started with a new VM.

Also, if you want a small, slimmed down version of Ubuntu without a GUI you can take a look at JeOS.  However, at first (while still learning,) the GUI is helpful to have available to switch to.  It uses more resources though.