Linux related software

greg's picture

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So I got rid of MS finally and am using Ubuntu 8.10, and am having to look for some alternatives for the stuff I used to use.

HTML editor - I got very familiar with Notepad++, and although can be used on Linux, it looks to be a pointless task of messing around to get it to run when there are already loads available for linux.
So what do you use?
Looking for something that has min of coloured highlighting for PHP/CSS/HTML.

FTP - what do you use? I used smartftp, basically because I liked the option to have a local and remote viewer open at the same time, for drag and drop purposes and because it made it easy going from different files in different folders. I often edit a bit of HTML then some CSS, then back to HTML etc.

Firewall and antivirus .... ?
Do you Linuxers use either/both? I read many people stating why not to bother with an antivirus, and I'm inclined to agree, but no firewall?

Also, does anyone else use Ubuntu 8.10?
If so, do you get some weird issues with firefox? Like the mouse right click sometimes opens a new tab without providing the menu to allow you to select "new tab", and sometimes right click opens a "save as" or "Evolution Email" without providing the menu allowing me to select it.

And the top window bar in Firefox (the very top bit that says "firefox") sometimes has broken graphics, the bar is diagonally split with a thick grayed out area. Hovering over the max/min/close icons on the top right seems to resolve this.

Weird

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

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HTML Editor: I like Quanta Plus, but you should also try Bluefish

FTP: I usually connect directly using places > connect to server. Otherwise just FireFTP in Firefox.

I haven't noticed any problems with FF in UB 8.10...

Congrats on getting rid of MS!!

Renegade's picture

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For HTML editor, you can try something like Bluefish, it's got a similar interface to notepad++ so it shouldn't take too much effort to get comfortable with.

As for FTP client, try gFTP or possibly even FireFTP if you're using Firefox?

I don't use any firewall or anti virus software on my computer so can't recommend any of those Wink

Edit: ha! Megan beat me to Bluefish and FireFTP Sticking out tongue

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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HTML editor:

I used Bluefish for a long period of time as well, but I recently had to pull away from it because it doesn't play well with a dark theme. Using gEdit combined with a couple plugins & Gnome's remote filesystem support has worked very well for me recently.

FTP:

Nautilus (like explorer for Gnome) is the best and easiest. Just fire up a file browser, and hit button to the left of the location bar to toggle between button and text-based location information. Then type in ftp://example.com and log in. gFTP is another good program if you are looking for a closer replacement to smartftp.

Firewall and antivirus:

I don't have anti-virus because I don't need it, and I don't have a firewall on my desktop because all internet traffic is routed through my Ubuntu Home server, and I do have a firewall setup on that one...it's just using iptables though.

greg's picture

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Cheers

Megan wrote:
Congrats on getting rid of MS!!
Yeah. I'm finding with Linux 90% of the time it's "I like what they did there", which is the opposite of what I usually thought with MS!

An example is you two recommending bluefish...I went to add/remove, typed bluefish, ticked a box clicked a button and it's installed.
Fantastic!
(and of course entered my password, which is also a well sorted idea IMO)

I tried Fireftp before and didn't like it. I'm sure it was because it didn't have the remote and local viewers, although I seem to remember a future additions list having it to be included. Maybe that's been added now...

Problem with using the direct connect option (places > connect to server) is I like to work on local files then upload them. That way I have an automatic backup of everything I do on my local HD. Which is why I like an FTP client with remote and local folder views.

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For an html editor I just used gedit when I had an Ubuntu desktop.

For ftp you could try filezilla, if I remember from when I used it last it has a local and ftp panel.

I never installed a firewall but for viruses I think the one I used was called clam av or something like that, avast also has a free linux version. I know the MS versions of avast were good, yet to try the linux version.

Also Greg, love the sig Laughing out loud

JeevesBond's picture

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So I got rid of MS finally and am using Ubuntu 8.10, and am having to look for some alternatives for the stuff I used to use.

Congrats. Smiling

HTML editor - I got very familiar with Notepad++, and although can be used on Linux, it looks to be a pointless task of messing around to get it to run when there are already loads available for linux.
So what do you use?
Looking for something that has min of coloured highlighting for PHP/CSS/HTML.

gEdit comes with Ubuntu Applications -> Accessories -> Text Editor and can be made quite powerful through the use of plugins. Also, as gEdit comes with the desktop package, the two are well integrated.

It's also worth noting that Eclipse works under Ubuntu (not my cup of tea though), in case you ever need a fully fledged IDE.

If you've ever got some free time, learn Vim. All the ladies love a man who has crazy 1337 Vim skillz, I'm always being asked out on dates because of it (though I turn them all down, of course)! Wink

FTP - what do you use?

Same as Megan, Places -> Connect to Server, then either open the files directly in gEdit (or 'Text Editor as Ubuntu calls it), or Vim; saves then go directly to the server. It's a lot faster than switching applications all the time, plus I mostly use SSH for file transfers these days: it's more secure.

On the odd occasion, where an old skool FTP transfer program is needed, I use FireFTP. It certainly has the local and remote viewers now, must have been a while since you tried it last. Smiling

Firewall and antivirus .... ?
Do you Linuxers use either/both? I read many people stating why not to bother with an antivirus, and I'm inclined to agree, but no firewall?

Ubuntu has this philosophy about firewalls: if you don't install services that listen on outside ports in the first place, you don't need one (of course, netfilter/iptables is built-in to Linux, but I wouldn't recommend it to newbies). Smiling

If you really want a firewall, grab a copy of Firestarter. Also, for LAMP configuration, have a look at Rapache.

Also, does anyone else use Ubuntu 8.10?

Yes!

If so, do you get some weird issues with firefox?

One of the extensions I use occassionally stops the right-click menu appearing, and/or selects Back without my actually clicking. Am pretty certain it's an extension that's causing the problem.

However, for all it's a flag ship FLOSS product, Firefox devs really don't seem to care much about their GNU/Linux version, apparently the up-coming version is going to be better in that respect. Faster load times, speedier browsing, bug fixes, etc.

And the top window bar in Firefox (the very top bit that says "firefox") sometimes has broken graphics, the bar is diagonally split with a thick grayed out area. Hovering over the max/min/close icons on the top right seems to resolve this.

That's weird, can't say I've ever seen/heard of that problem. You could try turning off the visual effects, some graphics card issue might be causing this, try selecting: System -> Preferences -> Appearance -> Visual Effects, then click the None option.

Speaking of visual effects, turn the effects back on and install CompizConfig (it installs under System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager). Hours of fun! Smiling

a Padded Cell our articles site!

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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If you've ever got some free time, learn Vim.

I've never really seen what the hype is all about. Do you know of any beginner tutorials?

greg's picture

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JeevesBond wrote:
gEdit comes with Ubuntu

Looking at the difference between that and bluefish now

JeevesBond wrote:
If you've ever got some free time, learn Vim. All the ladies love a man who has crazy 1337 Vim skillz
I thought that was a cleaning product...will do some investigating

JeevesBond wrote:
I use FireFTP. It certainly has the local and remote viewers now, must have been a while since you tried it last. :)
Actually, I think it was filezilla I tried, and yes about a year ago, so that and fireftp will both have had improvements by now.

JeevesBond wrote:
If you really want a firewall, grab a copy of Firestarter. Also, for LAMP configuration, have a look at Rapache.
I really don't, to be honest. I like to use as little as possible, but of course without security risks.
I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't need either really. I never visit dodgy sites, and of course if I get caught out it's a 99.999% chance the virus/spyware/malware wont work anyway as it will be for MS

JeevesBond wrote:
Speaking of visual effects, turn the effects back on and install CompizConfig (it installs under System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager). Hours of fun! :)
Mine doesn't seem to have that by default!

What's this dictionary business all about anyway? Wherever I type in email, browser etc, there seems to be a universal dictionary checking my spelling. I like it (my speling is oftin attrocious) but when I found some settings for the dictionary there seems to be three of them

Megan's picture

She has: 11,421 posts

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For FTP you could also try konqueror. It would work the same as connecting to the server in nautlius but you can have a split window view. That way you can have your local file system on one side and the remote view on the other side.

greg's picture

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Got fireftp, although it's very basic, so might be trying out other options.
It doesn't even allow drag and drop from local to remote..maybe I missed something but it's not changeable in the main options.

Just discovered something else too, perhaps not useful, in fact maybe considered a performance hog, but is cool all the same.
When I hover over a music file it plays it.

Had me confused for 10 seconds mind. Laugh

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FTP - You mean SFTP, right?! Filezilla does both, though most others claim (as they should) the same. FTP sends both user/pass, and info you are sending in clear text, so a sniffer could (and will, if you routinely offer up something juicy) capture both your system account, and your db user/pass if you're sending that sort of thing...

Firewall and antivirus .... ?
The day you let your guard down is the day you'll get hacked/infected. Any OS is vulnerable.

Sure, not many services are installed by default, but there are some. Then there's the ones you are going to add. One day you'll want to check out some little script so you install a web server, a database... and that little php script here, oh, and that one over there! And then you forget about them for an hour, a day, or a year. Just a little XSS vulnerability can lead to all sorts of shenanigans.

In an ideal world, you've authorized all network traffic going into and heading out of your machine(s) with a firewall, or two.

Also, you have friends, family and business contacts that use MS products right? Want to keep them as friends? A smug "I didn't get it cause I use Linux" doesn't smooth things over all that well when you forward something to a friend that wipes out their life's work. (Though a "Don't you have backups?" should! )

I use clamav on my mail servers to scan incoming mail for users before they get to touch it. I'm guessing it would do a fine job on a workstation as well.

Yikes.. A couple of posts, and I'm already getting ranty!

greg's picture

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Shaggy wrote:
Yikes.. A couple of posts, and I'm already getting ranty!
:grin:

Shaggy wrote:
The day you let your guard down is the day you'll get hacked/infected. Any OS is vulnerable.
I agree, but then also it's not quite that simple on Linux.

From what I have found so far, hackers software, malware, spyware and viruses would not be able to be installed or activated without root access - which has a requirement of my typing in my password to allow root access.
Installing or removing software, updating the OS and even mounting my old NTFS drive requires root, and coupled with the fact I'm careful with what I install and what I allow to run I don't see it as a major issue.

I understand the forwarding issue with malware, spyware and viruses even if they cannot do anything with my system, but I don't really have an issue about family and friends getting caught out by my forwarding things. most of them are well protected, and those who are not will be getting far worse than what would be at worst a once a year issue that I could send.

Besides, for spyware, malware or viruses to be forwarded in email or whatever they have to be activated, run to perform their tasks. That isn't going to happen in Linux for MS software, even with the cross-platform stuff making an appearance, they wont do a thing without root access.

Pretty much everything I install is from the software repository.

I am still unsure about the firewall though. I know Linux (non-server) is careful with services accessing ports, but it still concerns me my being open to the world.

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Ah! Don't assume the only way to attain root is with a password. The
(scary) rule of thumb is once a black hat gets shell access, gaining
root is often trivial for them. There is always some escalation hole
that we haven't remembered to patch, or for which there isn't a patch or
even a report yet. The same concept can hold true for a virus. It is only a matter of time before one comes along clever enough to take advantage of one hole or another.

It's only a matter of time for a 'virus' to appear that is clever enough to exploit the same types of privilege escalation holes.

You've chosen a flexible, inherently secure platform. Don't take that
security for granted. If you don't employ virus and intrusion detection, as well as a good bi-directional firewall, how will you ever know if you've been compromised or infected?

Cheers,
Shaggy.

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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It's only a matter of time for a 'virus' to appear that is clever enough to exploit the same types of privilege escalation holes.

Such as...

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Any operating system has had their fair share in the past, and is bound to have them in the future. Here's a sampling of past reported ones for the OS in question:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=ubuntu+privilege+escalation

Cheers,
Shaggy.

greg's picture

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Most of that is irrelevant. I went through the results for that search and most are for Ubuntu 7.10, I have 8.10.

Just because an available issue is found that could be exploited, doesn't mean anyone is going to. That's the whole point, no-one really does on Linux. Besides, that's ONE possible exploit for a local issue.

Look at the windows XP security vulnerabilities that have been discovered in the past years, with updates released for them - literally thousands. That doesn't mean every man and their dog are hacking into your machine with this new found potential exploit.

And as for viruses ... There are only a handful of viruses written and released for Linux in the last 10 years. all of which have had OS specific fixes to stop them doing anything.

http://librenix.com/?inode=21

I'm not really concerned with any virus issues anymore, I feel confident I'm protected, and may do a scan now and then with an AV, or an online scanner.
My issue is with firewalls, which also seems to show Linux is well safeguarded as default.
Although, of course not completely protected, but then neither is any PC with Linux or XP/Vista even with a firewall. There are ways around firewalls if an attacker really wants in.

I've just done a shields-up test, and for common ports and service ports all my ports were stealthed. Not open nor even marked as closed. My pc didn't respond to pings so looks to not exist/turned off etc.
That's without a software firewall, so the question is how would a software firewall help me any further?
Obviously software/malware/spyware that gets installed on my system would be outgoing and is perhaps a different matter, but that is limited by root access and my allowing it to be installed.

I see no way that a software firewall would help.

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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I've just done a shields-up test, and for common ports and service ports all my ports were stealthed.

How are you connected to the internet? Do you use a router?

greg's picture

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From PC to a router, then from router to a BT HUB which has a hardware firewall
(all hardwired)

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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If you go through a gateway, then you don't need a firewall on your local computer. You only need one on a computer that is exposed to the Internet.

You only may want to consider an outgoing one.

greg's picture

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That's true with most scenarios though. As even if you are connected directly to the internet, any hacker attempt that might get incoming access still needs software installed with outgoing access. Or at the least anything they hacked, exploits or vulnerable software, would need root surely?

What I'm getting at is, the chance of someone actually scanning my IP and ports is slim, finding one open or brutable is even less likely if I am stealthed. Then with the added protection of requirement of root, surely I'm as protected as I was on XP with a firewall (supposedly) protecting all the ports that a win machine has available?

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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What I'm getting at is, the chance of someone actually scanning my IP and ports is slim

When you are behind a router, the chances are 0, unless you manually opened a port.

greg's picture

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So, how come no-one has stated "you don't need a firewall"

No-one has actually said they don't use one, and I'm beginning to feel like it's not needed. (In Linux only it has to be noted)

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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If you go through a gateway, then you don't need a firewall on your local computer. You only need one on a computer that is exposed to the Internet.

I don't have one, and I don't even have anti-virus.

greg's picture

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ok thanks. Let me know if you ever get hacked Laugh

and, congrats on your thousandth post!

Renegade's picture

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I don't have any firewall or anti virus software on my GNU/Linux box either. Only have them installed on my Windows machines.

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When I installed my first copy of Ubuntu, I spent more than a few anxious hours on the Interwebz looking for Anti-virus software for it. Figured out pretty quick that it really was not required. No problem in a couple of years now. Glad to be rid of the Window$ OS. I'll not be looking back.

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Vim??? GEdit??? Are you people joking? They used those to make punched cards during WW2.
You should be looking at a rounded IDE like NetBeans. It allows you to develop anything that you can think of, but the interface might seem a little intimidating at first. Play around for a while and you'll see the benefits if using an IDE over an editor...

pr0gr4mm3r's picture

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I have used NetBeans, and I still use gEdit.

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Sometimes there's no substitute to a 'get-out-of-the-way simple' text editor. People still carry around pocket knives, even though chainsaws have been available for generations!

Cheers,
Shaggy.

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