Re: Hurd Newbie Question: Is Debian GNU/Hurd stable enough for programming in C, C++, Ruby on Rails, or Python?

[Svante Signell]

Dear Mark Lies,

Some of your questions are answered below.

On Wed, 2011-11-02 at 11:38 -0500, Mark Lies wrote:
> Hello!
> 
>  
> 
> I am trying to find out if Debian GNU/Hurd is stable enough to use as
> a programming platform and learning tool in these four languages, C, C
> ++, Ruby on Rails, and Python. 

Yes, you could use Hurd for all the above languages. ruby-rails-2.3 is
available via ruby1.8. Soon ruby1.9.1 will be available too.
 
>  Additionally, I am trying to find out if Debian GNU/Hurd is stable
> enough to use with the R-statistical package, gnuplot, emacs, and TeX
> and its variants.  

gnuplot and texlive is also available, but I have not tried them yet.
emacs23 currently does not build from source. However, it is available,
just drop me a line.

> I am entirely comfortable working in a *NIX environment in
> command-line mode only, ie, no windowing system installed, but am
> accustomed to working in GUI-based environments (Windows and OS X) and
> would prefer to work from a command-line terminal within a GUI.

X windows does work, but has not been tested too much yet. Most people
work on Hurd with a CLI currently. There are some quirks, consult the
Debian and GNU web pages about GNU/Hurd. 
http://wiki.debian.org/Debian_GNU/Hurd
http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/index.html

Window managers that should work include wmaker and xfce4. gnome and kde
will soon be available too.

> 
> First of all, I am aware from information on the Debian GNU/Hurd
> website that Debian GNU/Hurd is not stable and not appropriate for
> someone who is an end-user and who needs a stable system like
> Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X or Debian GNU/Linux.  Also, I know that
> some people are already using GNU/Hurd daily for simple tasks like
> email, light surfing, ftp, and other ‘simple’ things, and that
> Xwindows is glitchy and sometimes hangs completely.  

Agreed. However, more testers are needed.

> 
> I am trying to find out if Debian GNU/Hurd is stable enough for the
> purposes I mentioned in the first paragraph.  I have already spent a
> lot of time searching for this information, but most answers I find
> are outdated.  I've done a cursory search of the help-hurd mailing
> list archive. 

I think bug-hurd and debian-hurd are much better sources of information
than help-hurd.

> I have Googled all of the obvious combinations of Debian, GNU, GNU
> Hurd, and Hurd, paired with Python, Ruby, and Ruby on rails.  I
> understand that Python, Ruby, and Ruby on Rails are all compatible
> with POSIX based environments.  I also understand how to follow
> instructions to compile from source.  Do these languages compile from
> source and function as expected in Debian GNU/Hurd? 

See above.

> Does GCC compile from source and function as expected?

Yes it does.

>   Finally, I would ask the same question about the three software
> packages I mentioned.  As a practical matter, will they compile and
> function as expected in the current form of Debian GNU/Hurd?

I suppose so. Please let us know about your experiences.

> Any help, information, or links to appropriate reading material that
> you can provide is most appreciated. 

In case you install GNU/Hurd in a vm, like qemu/kvm consult the
following page:
http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/hurd/running/qemu.html

Debian CD images are found at:
http://people.debian.org/~sthibault/hurd-i386/installer/cdimage/

The netinst image is what I would recommend. In case of problems, please
send mail a to the most appropriate of the mailing lists above.