At work we use the world’s worst version control system (VCS). Actually I kid – we’re not using Microsoft SourceSafe. As previously mentioned we’re using MKS, which lacks Mac support. So I went out and purchased a copy of Parallels and sent up Ubuntu.
This proved to be harder than was expected. Firstly, because the fine people who package Ubuntu decided to use the GPL implementation of Java, which didn’t work with anything useful. So after installing Sun Java I moved on to directory servers. This got worse – Sun Application Server wouldn’t install, due to missing shared libraries, and so I tried Fedora Directory Server. Even with a HowTo I haven’t managed to get the admin interface working, not to mention the need to track down extra packages from Ubuntu 5 and hack, hack, hack. Sigh. But, finally, a working environment. However, he thought does occur that I would have been finished much earlier had I just installed Windows.
Parallels is quite a nice beast though. It’s affordable (£40) and fairly solid. The sound support is a bit spotty (or Ubuntu is, it’s hard to tell) and there’s no dual-head support, but it’s fast enough (using the current beta) for work to get done.
On a similar note, CodeWeavers have finally released their long promised August beta of CrossOver Office. It all seems very nice – much easier to get going than Darwine, obviously – and unlike Darwine is running Steam and has almost finished installing Half-life 2. So it appears I may have to do some stress testing tonight … oh, the sacrifices we make.
Plus, there’s a nice warm geeky feeling in running Steam alongside Ubuntu under Parallels while browsing NetNewsWire…
