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my analysis of linux hostility in the demoscene.

category: general [glöplog]
So, this is what I'm thinking. A lot of the demoscene, often to many people, is about hacking the most out of hardware as possible. Linux is kinda viewed as an artificial constraint on hardware. Typically the best way to access new hardware is with vendor drivers and linux's GPLed catchup with it's own drivers just doesn't cut it.

I personally feel that the design goals of linux (open-source-ness, portability, and correctness) aren't necessarily compatible with the design goals of the demoscene (direct access to what all the hardware has to offer as soon as possible).

What do you think?
added on the 2009-08-07 21:18:56 by sigflup sigflup
omg not again.

Apart from that, most demosceners simply have a life now and don't have to resort to plush penguins anymore like most Linux users. That's the reason. Really.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:21:32 by kb_ kb_
linux and correctness ? I don't think so.

The problem is linux doesn't allow you to release a demo and :
a) expect it to work on someone else machine unless you link something statically (and make your exe some gigabytes big)
b) expect it to run on your own computer after the next software update

As long as these two problems aren't solved, there is no thing such as a linux platform. One solution could be to make your demo run from a livecd. But I don't feel like burning a CD for running a 64k.
Another solution is to code demos on the gp2x. While it runs linux, it just sets a common base for binary compatibility.

Also, some people on the scene are not particularly hostile to linux. And maybe if some demos were linux only (when you use opengl it's so easy to make a windows version), maybe some people would use it more. Or just watch the videos instead.
I'd say most sceners aren't really hostile towards Linux (except for the ones e.g. who admin servers) - they don't really care much either, i mean hell, there are more OSX sceners than Linux now.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:31:10 by Gargaj Gargaj
Huh, that's kindof an interesting idea. A demo livecd or code on the gp2x as a common base for binary compatibility.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:31:31 by sigflup sigflup
I code for linux since I run linux and don't need windows. If I were to own a mac I would code mac demos. Yeah we compile windows version (breakin does) but it's not hard to code multi platform today, and we left the hardware pushing scene 10 years ago, imo the best demos are just designed well or move you in a certain way.

As long as your demo works here and now I don't see the problem as long as you submit a video... in fact sometimes I run my older demos in wine just not sandbox stuff :-)

I'm a linux fanboy since everything _I_ use a compouter for is there for me, but I certainly see its drawbacks as well and would never force anyone to run linux to run my demos. I try to provide a video or a windows/mac exe.

But at the same time I don't understand why some people defend windows so hard. Get out there, try some stuff around. Maybe windows IS your best choice, but look around.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:31:56 by thec thec
..."wine just not sandbox stuff" should be ..."wine just to sandbox stuff"
added on the 2009-08-07 21:33:03 by thec thec
I find it funny when people complain a 4k mustn't be allowed to link SDL while Windows 4k may link to DirectX.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:34:10 by Joghurt Joghurt
what? people complain about linking to SDL in 4ks? What do you want us to link to?
added on the 2009-08-07 21:37:34 by sigflup sigflup
under windows it's generally not allowed. under linux, i believe it's fine.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:38:17 by Gargaj Gargaj
I don't think it's "Linux hostility". There just seem to be not that many Linux sceners around in comparisons to some other platforms. You could easily turn the argument around and ask why so few Linux people are interested in making demos (but that question probably wouldn't make much sense either). Probably Linux users are just interested in different things, e.g. having an audio stack which is network transparent instead of low latency.

On the other hand Linux zealots have raided internet boards of all kinds for years and many people are sick of it. Thus they react strongly when someone comes around with a "omg why don't you guys use linux" thing..

Oh, and of course, plush penguins.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:38:19 by jua jua
thec, do you cross-compile to windows or run visual c/c++ or something in wine or a virtual machine?
added on the 2009-08-07 21:38:41 by sigflup sigflup
after six months working with opengl on linux, i rather say no, thanks.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:40:08 by rmeht rmeht
more trolls please
added on the 2009-08-07 21:45:25 by nerve nerve
Also,
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added on the 2009-08-07 21:46:13 by kb_ kb_
Different goals, kb_. Different goals.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:48:24 by sigflup sigflup
i agree with thec. whatever hardware/os i'm running at home is the one i code demos for. i've used dos, os/2, linux and windows. i dropped linux since all my favorite tools and toys are available here. if i had a mac, i'd definitly code for that instead.

if you are a demoscener running linux, why not make linux demos?
ok ok, so then. If you write a linux demo having a windows port and/or video capture = everything is cool
added on the 2009-08-07 21:50:57 by sigflup sigflup
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kb, like this?
added on the 2009-08-07 21:51:54 by nerve nerve
If you build it, they will come. In other words, someone please make an excellent linux-only demo some day. Also, most demos haven't accessed the hardware directly in ages., but dependencies and all that are painful. I still haven't been able to run the linux ports of my intros that waffle made.
added on the 2009-08-07 21:55:33 by Preacher Preacher
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added on the 2009-08-07 21:58:17 by Rob Rob
Quote:
If you write a linux demo having a windows port and/or video capture = everything is cool

-linux
-windows port and/or
added on the 2009-08-07 22:06:43 by havoc havoc
http://pouet.net/prod.php?which=3289 this is linux enough for me ...
linux can go back to hell

and take java with it
*fart*
added on the 2009-08-07 23:22:12 by sigflup sigflup

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