WILL TRAINZ EVER BE PORTED OVER TO LINUX

[Robert2d6]

I use both equally plus I have a Mac so it doesn't bother me one way or the other what runs on what, I have all avenues covered. :hehe:

However.

Did the other minority OS users contribute as you are suggesting? Mac users are also a minority.
Linux users would, the same as Mac users pay for the development by purchasing a version of Trainz for their chosen platform, point being I don't think there are enough people who are that interested in a niche hobby like railway sims that use Linux to make it profitable.

Why Trainz on Linux? Because it is an operating system that has been around as long as Windows and millions of people use it, not as many as Windows granted but still a large number
and in a free world they are quite entitled to ask that their chosen operating system is supported. It probably isn't likely to happen unless Microsoft suddenly shuts down though.

Why use Linux? Personal choice, No need for antivirus programs anti malware programs and daily updates or if behind a router a firewall, so long as you stick to the rules and don't run as root, a Linux kernel has inbuilt security features. An operating system that only require around 4GB of space yet can perform all the functions that Windows can using it's vast resource of free programs. You can also easily customise your desktop to use whatever window manager suits you best, you are not stuck with one choice as in Windows.

Android is based on the Linux kernel, 99% of routers use Linux, navigational aids, NASA, Quite a few governments, Many webservers are Linux, think N3V's are actually. Facebook uses guess what? Linux, Googles servers are, yep Linux again and of course YouTube is also on Linux.

Many Linux programs have actually been ported to Windows, Blender was a Linux application still is, VLC is a Linux program, Open Office is a Linux developed program these probably would never have made it to Windows if there was no Linux.

Linux may not be mainstream in home computing but it certainly isn't insignificant.

The only thing that keeps linux from having to fight viruses, is that virus creators go after the most popular OS, ( windows) which gives them the largest target. If Mac and Linux got to the same popularity as Windows, they would experience the same potential for virus attacks.

 

[clam1952]

May be going back a few years there was a shortage of AV's for Unix however there has been AV for Linux for many years currently there are a few companies that do supply AV's for Linux, AVG, Avast, McAfee, Avira, ClamAV. Quite a few distributions trying to give people the "Windows" feel make it too easy run in root, with password less logins etc, they will need AV's.

Also worked for a Government department running Unix workstations and servers well up to near the end of the last century so I know where you are coming from there, however we were then a closed system, when I retired it was all Windows, connected to the web and very unreliable, that was more due to IT systems having been privatised and the cheap junk we were using though.

 

[WindWalkr]

The only thing that keeps linux from having to fight viruses, is that virus creators go after the most popular OS, ( windows) which gives them the largest target. If Mac and Linux got to the same popularity as Windows, they would experience the same potential for virus attacks.

People keep saying this kind of thing about Windows and its viruses, but there's little evidence to support the claim. It is certain that larger targets will garner more attention, but if there are fewer serious flaws to exploit then the platform will simply not end up with the same kind of problems. I don't claim that any platform is "virus proof" but I will note that there are some very large non-windows platforms currently in existence which *don't* share the virus problem, to the extent that their users don't even consider installing virus checkers.

One of the problems with securing Windows is that the userland environment dates back to a time when security was not even a slight concern. There are probably a lot of things that Microsoft could do to improve Windows security, but they would come at the price of compatibility. Compatibility with older programs is often touted as the single biggest market advantage that Microsoft has- they're not going to throw that away. Microsoft is slowly improving the status quo, but they need to step carefully. Many other platforms don't have this legacy.

chris

 

[clam1952]

The only thing that keeps linux from having to fight viruses, is that virus creators go after the most popular OS, ( windows) which gives them the largest target. If Mac and Linux got to the same popularity as Windows, they would experience the same potential for virus attacks.

That goes without saying, however there have been Linux virus's, not many that's true however they rely on the user running as root, running from a user account none of them were effective. Can't do much damage in a Home folder as there are not any executable files in there to infect. The main Linux target for the malware brigade are servers which have been disrupted on occasion.
Mac has had a few more attacks of late again only those not running in a user account get infected.

Compare that with windows where nearly every one I know and many of the PC's I've had here for repair, use an admin account with no password.

 

[JCitron]

That goes without saying, however there have been Linux virus's, not many that's true however they rely on the user running as root, running from a user account none of them were effective. Can't do much damage in a Home folder as there are not any executable files in there to infect. The main Linux target for the malware brigade are servers which have been disrupted on occasion.
Mac has had a few more attacks of late again only those not running in a user account get infected.

Compare that with windows where nearly every one I know and many of the PC's I've had here for repair, use an admin account with no password.

The sad part is as the 'nix's become more consumer friendly the applications will be written so they run as root, defeating this nice level of security that is built into the Unix and Linux operating systems.

John

 

[narrowgauge]

I know that this may be greeted with derision but why not reverse the process? Would it be possible to create a Linux front end that will run Trainz in its present form? This would put the onus on the Linux users and not require any development work by N3V. Is this possible?

Peter

 

[andyjenk2]

What is Linux, and Ubuntu ?

If I wanted to purposely set out on a personal mission to boycott MS Windows, just to purposely buck the normal trend, and purposely sidestep a perfectly good working operating system (Mcrosoft Windows), I would buy a MAC, Linux, and Ubuntu. I see no real advantage of bucking the norm, what does it get you, incompatability problems ? Isn't that like cutting off ones nose to spite his face, or nailing ones shoe to the floor, painting yourself into a corner ?

With every new version of Windows I have had to replace Hardware AND software because of incompatibility problems. Trainz 2012 won't run on my laptop because the graphics processor is over 3 years old and Windows tells me there is no updated driver available. I consider THAT to be a compatibility issue. I have little choice of putting up with that under Windows because Microsoft stop supporting earlier versions and most new PCs come with the latest version. So if I upgrade my PC to better run Trainz Microsoft force me to pay again for their OS AND other things I have paid good money for stop working.

You will have NO compatibility problems with a version of Linux if you buy hardware and software which is compatible with that version of Linux. I am no Linux expert but I imagine that compatible products remain compatible with a Linux Distro longer than that for Windows.

 

[johnwhelan]

With every new version of Windows I have had to replace Hardware AND software because of incompatibility problems. Trainz 2012 won't run on my laptop because the graphics processor is over 3 years old and Windows tells me there is no updated driver available. I consider THAT to be a compatibility issue. I have little choice of putting up with that under Windows because Microsoft stop supporting earlier versions and most new PCs come with the latest version. So if I upgrade my PC to better run Trainz Microsoft force me to pay again for their OS AND other things I have paid good money for stop working.

You will have NO compatibility problems with a version of Linux if you buy hardware and software which is compatible with that version of Linux. I am no Linux expert but I imagine that compatible products remain compatible with a Linux Distro longer than that for Windows.

Why upgrade your version of Windows, especially with a laptop where you can't switch components easily if there are compatibility issues with a later version. Do you have a back up that allows you to revert to the earlier version of Windows, if so revert.

Cheerio John

 

[geoffwilliams]

I have found all versions of Trainz up to and including TS2009 SP3 will happily run on Linux with the latest version of wine. I use debian with the latest stable 2.6 kernel. I have had no success with Ubuntu and the version 3.0 kernel. It seems a kernel change has broken Trainz. The same versions will also run quite well in a VMPlayer virtual machine, not as fast as native windows but quite useable. One bonus of using a virtual machine is that Content Manager also works flawlessly. Trainz will not run in Virtual Box yet even though it does support 3d graphics accelaration to a point.

Obviously, running under Windows is the optimum, but if like me, you spend a lot of time in linux then it is possible to run trainz. Virtualization is getting better all the time, especially support for 3d graphics, I find I can now also run Flight Simulator 2004 in a VMWare box.
Geoff

 

[clam1952]

I found that the latest version of Wine has broken Trainz in Mandriva, I did have a nearly working Content manager with in that it would download but froze if you changed tabs also had 2010 working in Wine, back to the drawing board for me I guess.
Also tried some time ago
Ubuntu, didn't work.
PCLinuxOS, worked.
SuSe, didn't work.
Mint, worked but not as well as the 2 rpm distros that did.
Fedora, didn't work.
Mandriva 32bit and 64bit and 64bit Cooker (testing distro) did work in both, only have the 64 bit normal install at present which as above now doesn't.
My Linux test box is currently dead, so I only have Mandriva dual booting on one of my PC's with Win7 at present to play with.
To be honest I'm too busy route building to bother with Wine at the moment, may leave it until the next Wine update.

Never saw the point in running windows in a VM on Linux as you need windows installed on it anyway, may as well just dual boot.