Is Linux software processor specific?

[chester0cat]

Is Linux software processor specific? I am looking to install Linux because of some software written for it but I know that most linux systems are x86 based. Will Linux apps work on an PowerPC linux installation?

 

[Crusty]

You would have to check with the software developers to see if they have a PPC port available.

 

[Nothinman]

Yes and No. Most Linux software runs just fine on non-x86 machines (3 of my 5 machines at home are non-x86), but you either need to find a package compiled for your target or compile it yourself.

I would recommend Debian or Ubuntu, Debian puts a lot of work into making sure that all of their software (over 16,000 packages in sid) runs on all 12 supported architectures.

 

[joshc]

Originally posted by: chester0cat
Is Linux software processor specific? I am looking to install Linux because of some software written for it but I know that most linux systems are x86 based. Will Linux apps work on an PowerPC linux installation?

I hope you meant will the software work if you recompile it from the source...Since you sound like a linux n00b you might find it a bit hard to build the source but maybe not.

 

[chester0cat]

yes, I am a linux newbie. I a java programmer and there are some apps that not mdke for os x, but are available for Linux. How hard is it to compile an app for Linux anyway?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: chester0cat
yes, I am a linux newbie. I a java programmer and there are some apps that not mdke for os x, but are available for Linux. How hard is it to compile an app for Linux anyway?

It depends on the application. Debian and similar distributions offer binaries of quite a few applications on a number of platforms, so compilation isn't usually necessary.