Register?

[mikeshn]

Why Linux OS doesn't have register? What is the purpose of register in Windows OS? Can someone explain me please?

Thanks in advance?

 

[cleverhandle]

Do you mean the registry? (the configuration database) Or registering? (sending in info to a company) Or hardware memory registers? Please clarify.

 

[mikeshn]

I know that my Win2000 box has registers ....that what I mean

 

[Derango]

<< I know that my Win2000 box has registers ....that what I mean >>



I'm having some trouble understanding you. Is there any way you can rephrase what you mean?

 

[mikeshn]

Sorry for misunderstanding ... please click "start" click "run" than "cmd" than type regedit ... You'll see what I mean

 

[Derango]

<< Sorry for misunderstanding ... please click "start" click "run" than "cmd" than type regedit ... You'll see what I mean >>



Ahh! The registry!

The Registry is basicly a windows specific thing. Its where all of the programs, including windows itself, are supposed to store their configuration options. In fact, users wern't even supposed to be mucking around in there...it was suposed to be for microsofts internal use. That didn't last long though

It started back in windows 95 and has been with us ever since.

Linux dosen't have one because...well...it dosen't. All linux programs keep their settings in text files, usualy. Easier to change things that way.

There's no real reason, its just how things are.

 

[mikeshn]

Derango
..... thanks a lot .. Thanks

 

[Derango]

<< Derango
..... thanks a lot .. Thanks >>



No problem. I guess I answered your question then

 

[AndyHui]

Actually, the Registry has been around since WinNT.

 

[DaHitman]

Registry is just an over compilcated and less reliable way of emulating:

1) a directory tree with lots of directories for each thing such as SOFTWARE->MICROSOFT->WORD
2) configuration files in those directories storing the settings for that part of the system


It sounds good on a whiteboard, but in practice really has serious problems.. such as:

a) "all the eggs in one basket" approach is a security and reliablity nightmare

b) You can't just copy your settings for program X to another system because they are tied up in the registrty with everything else... with config files, you would just copy the config file for program X over to the other system and voila'..

c) no inline documentation... in text based config files, you and embedded comment lines with text documenting what the differnet options and values can me.. nothing like that exsists in the windows registery..its all goobledy beloved patriot, and not at all human readable worth a darn.


Text based config files if done correctly and properly organized are much better in real world use.

 

[cleverhandle]

If you use the Gnome desktop in Linux, it creates registry-like structures as well using GConf. From the little I understand of it, the GConf "registry" is not a single binary file a la Windows, but rather a set of files containing key/value pairs that an application basically tells GConf to watch for on its behalf. If the value is changed in a different program, GConf propagates those changes back to the applications it's looking out for, avoiding the need to restart the app. It also does some tricks to avoid duplicating its effort when the same user is logged on in several places across a network - which is why the gconf process doesn't exit when you exit Gnome. Pretty neat stuff, though I can't claim to understand it very well. Havoc Pennington wrote a couple articles on the Gnome developer site if anyone else is interested. Given all that, I always take care to shutdown gconf and oaf when installing new Gnome apps - maybe just some paranoia held over from too much Windows use.

Anybody know if KDE maintains any kind of central configuration database? I would think it would, but haven't used it in years, much less explored the architecture behind it.

 

[spyordie007]

I just thouht i would add in my 2 cents...
the windows registry can be found on every post-win 3.1 system, I am writing this message to you from my ipaq running pocket pc 2002, and it has a registry too!
it is specific to windows only, others have mentioned their linux machines using the gconf to keep track of settings, on a macintosh there is simply a folder that contains all the settings, the "preferences" folder...
as to why ms continues to use the registry (which i think is a stability nightmare) is really beyond me, however if you never install/unintall programs it tends to work fine.

enjoy
-Spy

 

[NorthenLove]

In Linux almost any config file worth messing around with is stored /etc, while Gnome might use Gconf to store it's settings hosing Gconf won't take your entire system down since it's only tied to Gnome and not the entire system like other OS's that put their eggs all in one basket.