[12:13] <Kir1> Hi, I moved from WinXP to UBUNTU two days ago but can't figure out how to setup for programming in gcc, python, and load in other packages beyond my desktop.
[12:14] <sareth> have you used the package manager?
[12:15] <Kir1> Applications / add-remove doesn't list gcc or python
[12:16] <sareth> System > Administrator > software sources ... i believe. then add the universe repositories
[12:17] <jrib> Kir1: lets do one at a time
[12:17] <jrib> Kir1: you already have python
[12:18] <Kir1> I have python downloaded to my desktop
[12:18] <jrib> Kir1: nah, you have python already installed
[12:18] <jrib> it's a fundamental part of Ubuntu
[12:18] <Kir1> Ok, how do I use it?
[12:18] <jrib> Kir1: do you know the python language already?
[12:18] <Kir1> no
[12:19] <Kir1> one guy suggested it would be a good front end for c++
[12:20] <jrib> ok
[12:20] <jrib> Kir1: docs.python.org and www.diveintopython.org are great resources for learning the language.  #python is great too if you have any questions about programming in python
[12:21] <jrib> Kir1: there are two ways to use python.  You can write scripts and then run them or you can use it interactively in the interpreter
[12:22] <Kir1> Ok.
[12:22] <jrib> basically to write a script, you use your favorite text editor.  At the top you write "#!/usr/bin/env python" without the quotes.  After that, you write your python
[12:22] <jrib> Kir1: to use the interpreter, just write "python" in the terminal and press enter
[12:23] <Kir1> Great!  Thank you.
[12:23] <jrib> Kir1: np, gcc is a bit different.  You need to install that yourself (using the package manager)
[12:23] <Kir1> What do I do with other software I download for python or gcc
[12:24] <jrib> Kir1: there is a "gcc" package but you will want to install "build-essential" to get the basic stuff you need to actually compile and build programs
[12:24] <jrib> Kir1: the command to install build-essential is "sudo aptitude install build-essential" or you can use system > administration > synaptic
[12:24] <jrib> Kir1: what software do you mean?  example?
[12:25] <Kir1> Mesa, libMgTk, freeGlut, SDL
[12:26] <jrib> Kir1: all that stuff should be in the repositories, just use synaptic or apt
[12:27] <jrib> except I don't know what MgTK is
[12:28] <Kir1> It's advertized on a webpage as a wrapper for one of the openGL clones.
[12:28] <jrib> link?
[12:29] <Kir1> http://www.bebits.com/appver/1592
[12:30] <Kir1> There's a backlink on the page
[12:30] <jrib> updated 2001?
[12:30] <jrib> seems a bit old
[12:31] <Kir1> Yeah, I don't know if I need it-- what I want to do is write a GUI for my robot to work over wireless.
[12:31] <jrib> just use python with pygtk
[12:31] <Kir1> Ok, I'll look pygtk up.
[12:32] <jrib> Kir1: do you care what language it is in?  almost every language has gtk bindings
[12:33] <Kir1> Not much but I had a custom language written in VB.Net and it turned out way to slow especially for graphics.
[12:34] <Kir1> that's like minutes per screen instead of 30 FPS or better.
[12:37] <Kir1> So that, not wanting to pay Microsoft for my robot software if it ever makes me a dime, and some ethernet bug in my WinXP (and general frustration with MS over the years) motivates my move to UBUNTU.
[12:37] <jrib> good reasons
[12:40] <Kir1> Ok, so how do I access c++?   I did what I saw on a blog to install gcc but I found it only loaded 4.0 instead of 4.1 the current release.  Then I still couldn't find any way to call it.
[12:42] <jrib> Kir1: after installing build-essential, you can compile things like this:   g++ -o outputfilename sourcecodefile.cc
[12:42] <Kir1> The load old command was:
[12:42] <Kir1> sudo apt-get install gcc build-essential
[12:45] <Kir1> Do you specify a filepath like in Windows or just accept the default?
[12:45] <jrib> well I assume you are in the same directory as the source code
[12:45] <Kir1> How do you change directories in UBUNTU?
[12:46] <jrib> Kir1: cd /path/to/new/place
[12:46] <jrib> !cli | Kir1
[12:46] <ubotu> Kir1: The linux terminal or command-line interface is very powerful. Open a terminal via Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal (Gnome) or K-menu -> System -> Konsole (KDE).  Manuals: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BasicCommands
[12:48] <Kir1> Yes I'm already seeing the command line is much more used here.  In Windows there were some important commands but you had to go to a computer store to learn them.
[12:49] <Kir1> This UBUNTU has the first terminal, not the K-menu option
[12:50] <jrib> you are using GNOME then
[12:50] <Kir1> I guess?
[12:51] <jrib> yeah, it is default for ubuntu
[12:51] <Kir1> It came on a free UBUNTU Labeled and eveloped CD-R from a computer repair shop.
[12:53] <jrib> Kir1: cool, where's the repair shop out of curiousity?
[12:53] <Kir1> Clatskanie, OR  USA.  Unfortunately he doesn't know enough to get me set up but he said if I learn it he'll be asking me questions.
[12:54] <jrib> ah
[12:56] <Kir1> So where are you all from?
[12:58] <jrib> Kir1: I'm from boston
[01:00] <Kir1> Well small world -- during the Clinton years I'd get lots of invitations to move my robot business to Mass. even though I didn't have a product yet.
[01:02] <Kir1> Still don't but maybe after I get this GUI done.
[01:03] <Kir1> Well, I've gone back and copied all the good advice from this conversation into an email to myself.  Anything else that should be said before signing off?
[01:05] <jrib> Kir1: well help.ubuntu.com has a nice intro to ubuntu in general.  There are a bunch of programming irc channels, usually ##language or #language to help you with the programming and there is always #ubuntu for help with ubuntu.  Good luck with your project!
[01:06] <Kir1> Thank you much!
[04:33] <wims> def typo
[04:33] <blimpdude> i added a ?