Arch Linux Workstation

carolinabranden · 2011-10-05 22:38:18

I'm a DIY guy... with more than just computers. In the near future I am planning to use Arch Linux 64bit for a professional use environment. I'll also be building a new system after the new upcoming standards go mainstream. All the programs I'll be using will be heavily extended and modified versions. Windows (retail license) has far too much bloat, but I'll dual boot it on a separate HDD. Photoshop, Coldfusion and/or etc... are nice except for the added cost. I am trying to decide on a shell and solid programs to perform my needs. Any recommendations regarding additional open source platforms/programs, modified versions, superior alternatives or extensions? Opinions are welcome too.

Photography -> GIMP
3D Rendering -> Blender
I'm searching for modified versions plus extensions to create ultra realistic images and models. Not for creating games.
2/3D CAD -> ?
I have my doubts about what I have seen thus far. I'd rather have a commercial grade program available on Linux than deal with a bunch of time wasting hassle when trying to create models. Maybe someone in who has been down this road can curb my appetite.
Office Suite -> LibreOffice
I write on a regular basis. Out-of-box it has a lot of nice features. Microsoft Office 2010 is what I am using now. I am hoping to find extensions to add the missing features found in the newest Microsoft Office.
Pro E-mail Client -> ?
I'm looking for an Outlook replacement. Thunderbird is not something I am too akin to after my numerous issues with Mozilla's FireFox on several (5+) computers.
Web Development -> Notepad++ w/ Aptana Studio
I own a website with several domains. For the past few months it has been blank as I decide on the layout. It will feature a pro online portfolio, blog and etc... Not for general or family usage. Pre-made templates are a no-go. I'm experienced with some CSS, HTML and etc...
Etc...

Last edited by carolinabranden (2011-10-05 22:54:36)

JHeaton · 2011-10-06 07:05:50

In terms of shell, bash would probably suffice. You've not specified anything that would require anything different. For an email client I think Evolution might be what you're looking for. When I moved away from Outlook, Evolution was what I settled on and was most comfortable with at the time. Web development, you could give Quanta Plus or Bluefish a go, but really any decent text editor with syntax highlighting and other such features usefull to developers would do - Gedit, vim, emacs, Kate etc.

rwd · 2011-10-06 18:24:06

How about web based mail/calendar, something like feng-office, on your own server?

carolinabranden · 2011-10-07 02:23:10

rwd wrote:

How about web based mail/calendar, something like feng-office, on your own server?

I already own a paid e-mail account that would allow me to sync other accounts, but I would much rather not do that.

mcmillan · 2011-10-07 03:15:59

Chances are you'll mostly get people telling you what they use, might as well save a step and look at the already compiled Common Applications Wiki page

Main thing missing from there that you requested is CAD, which I have no experience with, though seem to remember hearing is one of Linux's shortcomings - not sure whether that's improved at all.

FlyingHappy · 2011-10-07 04:06:44

CAD is definitely one of Linuxes shortcomings. I have played with HeeksCAD which comes with HeeksCAM and have heard decent things about VariCAD and BRL-CAD(used by us military I believe) but never actually tried them. HeeksCAD is no SolidWorks or ProE but works OK for what I have played around with. Not sure what you will use it for in the end, but that's my $.02.

smartass · 2011-10-07 12:31:17

There is FreeCAD in the AUR, working on top of opencascade.

See if it satisfies your needs. And btw, I have used Blender for constructing millimeter-precision models. It also has import modules for some common CAD programs.
Regarding Blender rendering, the Yafaray renderer is said to make anything look very realistic and I've seen amazing things done with it. Check it out

As for LibreOffice, Arch repos have already 3.4.x which is not deemed fully stable....but 3.5 should be back to normal

The Opera browser includes a very well designed email client, worth a try.

Web development.....hmm, Bluefish most likely if you want something bigger. Quanta+ is unfortunately somewhat stale. And most browsers now include a DOM explorer/editor, Opera has Dragonfly , Firefox has Firebug and Chromium has something too.

If you feel like getting really geeky, you could of course start using Emacs, as it is able to satisfy all your requests and anything else except for Blender and CAD. Yes, that means it has a gimp equivalent and mode and you could start using LaTeX with AucTeX if you feel like it as a replacement for office stuff.

Just some random ideas, as usual, you'll have to try it out on your own before you can be sure if it fits your needs

Grinch · 2011-10-07 14:18:07

carolinabranden wrote:

3D Rendering -> Blender
I'm searching for modified versions plus extensions to create ultra realistic images and models. Not for creating games.

I don't know exactly what you mean with 'modified versions', as for extensions/plugins/addons I've heard great things about BSurfaces. As for creating ultra-realistic models, certainly Blender is capable of that, but obviously your own skill will be the determining factor. These days most character-focused modeling is done using 3d sculpting methodology and Blender has good support for this. I've been doing some spare time sculpturing myself from time to time using Blender and while it's obviously not near as powerful as commercial 'sculpting-dedicated' offerings such as ZBrush, or Mudbox, it's still very capable. Here's some old (2+ years) stuff I sculpted in Blender back when I was playing around with lots of 3d sculpting in my spare time:

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3204/geek1g.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2580 … dertes.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3412/pig1.jpg
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6084/pig2y.jpg
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/180/leela2.jpg
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/6782/dogjk.jpg

So if you have any questions pertaining to Blender sculpting I'd be happy to share what I know. As for rendering, it seems the new Cycles renderer is the future but I haven't had any real experience with it so I can't help you there (and I really suck at rendering anyways).

smartass · 2011-10-07 18:11:14

Grinch wrote:

Here's some old (2+ years) stuff I sculpted in Blender back when I was playing around with lots of 3d sculpting in my spare time:
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3204/geek1g.jpg
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2580 … dertes.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3412/pig1.jpg
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6084/pig2y.jpg
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/180/leela2.jpg
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/6782/dogjk.jpg

Wow, nice man, very nice

Vamp898 · 2011-10-11 13:06:34

I knew a page where about 10 CAD Applications for Linux where told, incl. some well known and also one from Siemens.

Im going to search for this page, this will hopefully help you

And for Outlook replace i would recommend KMail/Kontact.

Its a fully featured and Exchange compatible (when akonadi resource for exchange is installed) PIM Suite

and for photography i would recommend digiKam over GIMP. You can develop RAW-Images with an incredible awesome stack manager which can use a lot of filters, optimisations and noise reduction on the images before developing them from RAW to PNG.

digiKam is just awesome in that point and even Windows Users want to use this RAW Development.

Last edited by Vamp898 (2011-10-11 13:10:44)

zenlord · 2011-11-06 15:08:59

To add to the CAD-possibilities: I have searched alternatives for autoCAD because I wanted my architect to try linux out, and the best alternative that I encountered was https://www.bricsys.com/en_GB/ (Bricscad) - it offers (iirc) full compatibility with .dwg, which might be important if you'll be using it professionally.

I have never used autoCAD, nor bricscad - everything I know about it, is second hand experience...

For your other questions I can refer to our own linux-office in which we use linux exclusively (just celebrated our 5-year-anniversary). Evolution, Libreoffice, Firefox, GIMP, Geany (webdevelopment).

Arch Linux

#1 2011-10-05 22:38:18

Arch Linux Workstation

#2 2011-10-06 07:05:50

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#3 2011-10-06 18:24:06

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#4 2011-10-07 02:23:10

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#5 2011-10-07 03:15:59

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#6 2011-10-07 04:06:44

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#7 2011-10-07 12:31:17

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#8 2011-10-07 14:18:07

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#9 2011-10-07 18:11:14

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#10 2011-10-11 13:06:34

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

#11 2011-11-06 15:08:59

Re: Arch Linux Workstation

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