General Linux/Windows ...

[EagleKeeper]

I am having to drag myself back toward the Linux world for potential embedded work.
Gist is I want to refresh myself with Linux user commands and be able to develop small programs that have to reach down to the internals (Sockets/file sytem/communications)

Back in '04 I worked with RedHat in a pure Linux environment use KDE as an IDE package

I would like to put a Linux system along side my Win7 system.
I have a spare 40GB drive that can be used for the Linux work.

1. What should be done to allow a dual boot of the Win7 system to support a Linux package
   
2. What Linux package should I obtain that will install easily alongside the Windows OS.
   
3. Then should I grab the KDE or some other development package for C++.

See, Moderators are not always all knowing:wub:

 

[lxskllr]

Wouldn't running Linux in a VM be easier? If you must have a native install, just about anything will dual boot fine with Windows. Dunno about the specific development question, but any of the major players should have all the tools you need.

 

[Senor_Bubbles]

does the manufacturer include an IDE with an ICE plugin/add-on?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Wouldn't running Linux in a VM be easier? If you must have a native install, just about anything will dual boot fine with Windows. Dunno about the specific development question, but any of the major players should have all the tools you need.

Have not worked with a VM environment (setting one up)

 

[lxskllr]

Have not worked with a VM environment (setting one up)

Give it a shot, and see if it'll work for you. It's easy to do, and free. VirtualBox would probably be best if you intend on using it for work. VMware is free for private use, but I don't know about commercial use. Not a big deal at your house, but I'm a big believer in keeping things legit at the workplace. If you like it, you can also buy VMware. It's cheap enough for work purposes if you get value out of it.

Anyway, I'd try Xubuntu in a VM. I like Debian, and its derivatives. Xubuntu would be like Debian, but a little easier to setup for someone getting back into Linux after a long break. Fedora will be more like RedHat, but I'm not sure how much that matters after your long break. It'll all be new now :^D

I don't know about the IDEs, but here's a wiki comparison...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_integrated_development_environments

I've seen Netbeans, and Eclipse mentioned a lot, but since I'm not in the business, I haven't paid close attention. Emacs and Vi are more primal, and should do what you want, but from what I've seen. operating those programs is an art unto itself.

 

[Jodell88]

For a C++ IDE I highly recommend QtCreator.

 

[Nothinman]

Then should I grab the KDE or some other development package for C++.

This depends on what you're doing. There are number of C++ IDEs out there from Eclipse to vim+make, but what you use is heavily dependent upon the project requirements. Meaning, if your embedded system's emulator was designed to run within Eclipse then it would probably make the most sense to use that.