Starting over with Linux, please answer few simple questions.

[bigshooter]

I decided that I don't like wasting my feeble c++ skills on Visual C++ after running into compatability problems between microcrap compiler and g++. I am going to try to go only Linux for a while, but don't know where to start. i have mandrake 7.2 on, but although it is the easiest distro, I am having probs with installing some things, couldn't even get the divx codec going, too many dependencies and libraries needed, things didn't really work right.

To the main point, I bought "Running Linux 3rd edition" since it was highly recommended. I am trying to decide whether to keep mandrake 7.2 on and just use vterms (or I guess just boot to cli), or whether I should just jump into slackware. I want to learn the command line a lot better, but I also do need to have a working network connection so I can send my progs in for class since my 3rd semester instructor isn't as lenient on late assignments as the first two semesters were. I like using vim so command line would be a good place to start for me. I just can't decide whether to switch to slack (or debian since everyone seems to love it too) or keep mandrake which already works perfectly. Hope I didn't rant too much, pretty late night for me, but please help a newb out. Thanks.

[guitarlyn]

Mandrake works perfectly well and generally is easier to set up for most services. I truly prefer Debian-based distro's myself and apt-get is great (you'll find it in Corel and Stormix too). If you stick with Mandrake, use the Mandrake Update tool. It is generally up to date, especially in the "unstable" ftp site. This way the dependancy problem doesn't come to play the way it will compiling from source or using standard RPM's. If your ready to get your hands dirty, go for it all...otherwise use that super-easy GUI tool they built to be used.

~Guitarlynn

[mattmorrow]

As most people will attest, choice of Linux distribtions is very subjective. Like editors, everyone typically likes the one they learned on, or are most familiar with. I like, and often recommend RedHat. However, most of them should fit your needs - they all come with the GNU tool chain (including compiler, linker, editor, and debugger), as well as full networking support. Your big decision might be whether or not to go GUI or command line. I prefer command line, but if you're used to MS VC++, you might want an IDE. There are several good ones available. Search a site like www.freshmeat.org, (http://www.freshmeat.org,) these forums, or www.slashdot.org (http://www.slashdot.org) for "IDE AND editor AND compiler AND debugger"
HTH...