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RE: Mathematica stole my X so I had to kill it

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg36987] RE: Mathematica stole my X so I had to kill it
• From: Steven <hattons at speakeasy.net>
• Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 05:01:29 -0400 (EDT)
• References: <anh2v5$rm8$1@smc.vnet.net>
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

DrBob wrote:

> That makes about twenty posts this week detailing nothing but problems
> with Mathematica on Linux.  The BEST thing we've heard was somebody's
> opinion that it might be worthwhile to run a Kernel on Linux (but not
> the FrontEnd).
> 
> That's more than enough bad news to talk me out of switching to Linux.
> I had been really considering it.
> 
> Bobby

Please keep in mind that this was on Mathematica 4.1,  I'll have 4.2 tomorrow, and 
we'll see how that goes.  This isn't really the result I had hoped for by 
voicing my grievences about Mathematica on Linux.  I want to imporve the product.  
I very much wish WRI would give us a dual boot license.  That way, we can 
use Mathematica in either environment the current situation dictates as the best.  
I run Linux exclusively.  I probably wouldn't use Mathematica if I had to do it 
with Windows.  I just don't do that as a matter of course.  I've been 
posting a lot of gripes about Mathematica on Linux because I want to bring them to 
the fore.  People have too often resisted admitting problems with Linux 
related issuse, either because they aren't sure if the problem is their 
fault, or because they don't want to give Linux a bad name.  I don't buy 
that second reason one bit.  Hey, if it locks up my X, I want to know if 
that happens to others, and I want to identify the source of the problem.

What I really would like to gain from all my negative statements is 
solutions to what I perceive as problems.  If not that, then perhaps the 
perspective which makes me understand that what I see as problems are 
really just my unfamiliarity with the product.  I also want to get others 
interested in pitching in to make the Mathematica Linux the superlative Mathematica 
platform.  That's how open source works.


All that being said, if you are in a situation where an X lockup would 
really do harm to your project, I would say that I cannot claim it won't 
happen to you.  OTOH, I am able to break just about any system.  I can't 
swear to you that Mathematica won't lock up your Windows system.  I can say you 
will not have as easy a time shelling into it and trying to recover your 
system without rebooting.

STH