possibly silly question

[phredd]

Hi guys,

i don't have linux running on a mac....... or even a mac actually!

Question: Mac OSX is unix-based right? So would it be feasible for OSX applications to be run, or modified to be run on a linux system?

Or does OSX have fundamental differences to Linux?

It'b be kinda kewl to use photochop etc in linux!

[bproffitt]

Not too silly.

OS X is actually BSD-based, which is another variant of UNIX. In theory, once an application was fully ported to the OS X layer, it should be possible to quickly shift the port over to the Linux platform.

In practice, however, this is going to be completely dependent on the software maker in question actually performing the operation on their closed, proprietary code. I doubt Adobe will shift their Photoshop code over because they will cite, "lack of customer interest" or some such nonsense.

Peace,
Brian Proffitt

[phredd]

Cool, what do ya reckon about Dreamweaver/Flash getting a linux port?

There's a petition up for it http://www.execulink.com/~cboden/dwlin/

but how many people do you think would have to register interest for Macromedia to do it?

[bproffitt]

I really would not have a clue how much customer interest there would have to be. Macromedia is aware of the user base over on Linux; I've talked to some of their people before. Like most commercial vendors, I think they are taking a wait and see approach.

Sorry to be so vague, but it's hard to read the tea leaves for some of these companies.

Peace,
Brian Proffitt