Noob question: Which Linux distribution is "best" for Django?

[Andreas Pfrengle]

Hello,

till now I've been experimenting with Django (development version)
under Win2k. But Windows sucks. So I dare to make my first steps with
Linux. Most of you will surely say I won't regret this decision ;-).
But since I haven't any experience with Linux yet, I want to choose a
distribution that is best suited for someone coming from the Windows-
world AND suited to establish a Django development environment. Well,
I'm not even sure if there will be any great difference between
several distributions regarding these aspects. Any comment is welcome.

Regards,
Andreas

[hutuworm]

Since Python's a OS dependless language, and Django's based on Python,
so every popular Linux distro's suitable for Django developement.
Acctually I'm using RHEL, Fedora, Ubuntu as Django development
environment, or you may want to check http://distrowatch.com/ .

hutuworm

[Horst Gutmann]

IMO the differences between the distributions out there shouldn't
really matter when it comes to GNU/Linux as a development environment.
You should always have the option to install whatever you want from
source. You might face some problems with some distros that use for
example very old version of whatever database system you want to use,
but again: Nothing that would completely keep you from developing
using Django.

That said, the more popular a distro, the more help you will get from
other people, so you should focus on the big ones like Ubuntu, Fedora
etc. :-)

- Horst

[Todd O'Bryan]

If you decide to use Ubuntu, here's a link to how to set it up for
developing Django using PyDev on Eclipse. The steps have been tested
by several high school students, so they're fairly straightforward.
(That doesn't mean you won't find a problem, however.)

https://www.dupontmanual.org/wikis/spectops//HOWTO:_Install_Ubuntu_Linux/HOWTO%3A_Install_Ubuntu_Linux

There are some parts of the how-to you should skip, obviously. (Trying
to set up an account on our server, for one.)

HTH,
Todd

[Jarek Śmiejczak]

> But since I haven't any experience with Linux yet, I want to choose a
> distribution that is best suited for someone coming from the Windows-
> world AND suited to establish a Django development environment.

As far as I know Fedora, Ubuntu and Suse have LiveCD .
I suggest to download ISO, burn ISO on dvd/cd, run, play(with all
download livecd's :) and then choose your development environment.

I'm currently working on Ubuntu/OpenSuse with Django and Gedit [part
of Gnome project](one of best simple editors that i ever seen - with
powerful snippet extension) and some kernel features such as FUSE(and
connected with this sshfs).

[Kenneth Gonsalves]

On 09-Dec-07, at 8:27 PM, Andreas Pfrengle wrote:

> But since I haven't any experience with Linux yet, I want to choose a
> distribution that is best suited for someone coming from the Windows-
> world AND suited to establish a Django development environment.

mandriva

--

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kg
http://lawgon.livejournal.com
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[squish...@gmail.com]

I'd strongly recommend Ubuntu. It's got the power and flexibility of
Debian with ease-of-use that is absolutely outstanding. It's a stable
server product, and performs very well on the desktop as well.

[kevinski]

A little over a year ago, I was in your shoes. Microsoft just didn't
do it for me anymore, and I wasn't sure where to turn. A lot of people
here are recommending Ubuntu, but as an individual that was not too
long ago in your situation, and has quickly developed a decent
knowledge of Linux server administration, believe me when I say that
Ubuntu is the greatest distribution for a newbie.

First, the way packages are managed is so simple. Setting up a LAMP
server with Django will probably take you less than an hour.
Second, the online documentation is very thorough and easy to follow.
No matter what package you need to install, you will be able to find
simple, step by step instructions on how to configure it.
Third, a new book is coming out on Ubuntu Server Administration which
will work as an excellent compliment to the Django Book regarding the
administration of your server:
http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Ubuntu-Server-Administration-Professional/dp/1590599233/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197312353&sr=8-1

If you are interested, check out the following article. It is related
to setting up a Django/Ubuntu server on Slicehost, but really helped
me along when I was setting up my own box. I guarantee you it will
save you gobs of time.

http://www.inerciasensorial.com.br/2006/11/22/perils-of-software-development/django-on-slicehost-virtual-private-server/

I hope this info is helpful to you.

[Andreas Pfrengle]

Thanks for so many replies and the helpful links. Ubuntu really seems
to be a good solution as far as I can tell by now. I'll give it a try.
At least now I know what I will do on Christmas :-)

[Ramdas S]

Go for Ubuntu.

RS

[Joe]

To make things easy, you could download VMware Server - run that on
your windows box and install the prebuilt appliances. That'd make it
easy to try out a few linux versions. VMware is free as are the
appliances.

I use ubuntu primarily.

j

[Lic. José M. Rodriguez Bacallao]

I will recommend Arch, is simple and powerful.

--
Lic. José M. Rodriguez Bacallao
Cupet
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Todos somos muy ignorantes, lo que ocurre es que no todos ignoramos lo mismo.

Recuerda: El arca de Noe fue construida por aficionados, el titanic
por profesionales
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Aspersieman]

Lic. José M. Rodriguez Bacallao wrote:
> I will recommend Arch, is simple and powerful.
>
> On Dec 11, 2007 1:22 PM, Joe <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> To make things easy, you could download VMware Server - run that on
>> your windows box and install the prebuilt appliances. That'd make it
>> easy to try out a few linux versions. VMware is free as are the
>> appliances.
>>
>> I use ubuntu primarily.
>>
>> j
>>
>>
>> On Dec 9, 9:57 am, Andreas Pfrengle <a.pfren...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> till now I've been experimenting with Django (development version)
>>> under Win2k. But Windows sucks. So I dare to make my first steps with
>>> Linux. Most of you will surely say I won't regret this decision ;-).
>>> But since I haven't any experience with Linux yet, I want to choose a
>>> distribution that is best suited for someone coming from the Windows-
>>> world AND suited to establish a Django development environment. Well,
>>> I'm not even sure if there will be any great difference between
>>> several distributions regarding these aspects. Any comment is welcome.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Andreas
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>

I second the Arch suggestion - it's awesome!

--

The three things to remember about Llamas:
1) They are harmless
2) They are deadly
3) They are made of lava, and thus nice to cuddle.

[Ben Ford]

I third it... except for the fact that this is a newby asking. Given that fact I'd have to say (k)ubuntu. Personally I love Arch!!
Ben

--
Regards,
Ben Ford
ben.f...@gmail.com
+6281317958862

[Andreas Pfrengle]

VMware seems to be a good idea - but I'll probably install win2k again
from Ubuntu as main system ;-) My win-machine has gotten so bloated
and slow that it is anyways time for a new installation. That's the
reason why I wanted a new system at all.

Arch also looks lean and fast, but the docs for Ubuntu are a big plus
to me.

Regards,
Andreas

[eXt]

VMWare is a very good suggestion. Another option is to use VirtualBox
which is also free.