Linux use in modeling

[Adam Childers]

I just started my first Linux class having never used this OS before. Trying to learn command line interface, having only used DOS rarely about 15 years ago, makes me want to pull my hair out. I was just wondering how important a broad knowledge of Linux is in the creation and use of meteorology software? I have been trying to figure out what kind of programming and OS's to focus on.

 

[rdale]

If you're "creating" then it's quite a feat... If you are just using the software, you don't need to know much.

 

[Derek Mohr]

Unfortunately it seems that most software, for example all of the GRlevel radars, use Windows...still waiting for the MacOS software to take off with meteorology so I can start getting the software myself

 

[David Wolfson]

In industrial-strength modeling in general, linux is indispensable. The reason is that you need to harness the power of many machines using open source software. Microsoft wants to make money and doesn't make it easy or cheap to do that within the Windows proprietary domain.

Most of the hassle of linux is because it has to keep multiple users running multiple processes away from each other, and keep kernel processes away from user processes. It's extremely hard for a non-root process to crash unix which is A Good Thing.

I'm developing a mobile, embedded system. I just couldn't imagine having to deal with Windows bloat, licensing, security, and stability issues on top of all the other hassles.

Ubuntu linux is a pretty nifty distro. A lot of unix' legendary system management hassles are handled by GUIs, the "sudo" facility, and software package management utilities. Yet the shells ("command line") are there when you need them.

As others say, though, it does depend on whether you want to focus on the front end or back end of software development.

 

[Adam Childers]

Thanx for the input! I guess I should probably just suck it up and learn to enjoy Linux. I am working on a meteorology degree and I would love to work for the NWS eventually (especially the NSSL but I'm sure thats a very long shot) so I am sure a good working knowledge of Linux would definitely come in handy

 

[Adam Boggs]

The best way to learn it is to install it and use it. As David mentioned, Ubuntu is a pretty user friendly distribution. You will barely need the command prompt unless you want it. You can also download VMWare and install it in a virtual machine if you don't want to take over your whole computer. If you end up doing a lot of Linux administration, I'd recommend the "Linux Administration Handbook". [shameless plug ]

I ran some of the supercomputers up at NCAR for a while and pretty much all the front-end nodes ran Linux. (Or AIX.) As mentioned, ms just doesn't compete in this space. I recall seeing a talk at Supercomputing '06 on the new microsoft clustering technology that could scale to "10s of nodes". Ummm, we run a 2048 core machine, can it run on that? No.

 

[Tyler_Costantini]

I used the WRF EMS software and Ubuntu Linux to make a 5 node cluster.. to really works good I use a mac to control all of it, I compiled WRF to the mac so that i can run the GUI to set up runs then just let her rip. IMO Linux / Unix = sliced bread!