created: 20200703045728499
modified: 20200703050116437
section: 1.3
tags: lab01
title: /labs/lab01/Linux Desktop
type: text/vnd.tiddlywiki

We will be using the Information Science Linux desktop in lab 3.27 for INFO202.

If you are reading this document from the Windows desktop then reboot and choose the 'Information Science Linux Desktop' option from the boot menu.  You can log in with your usual University username and password.

We are using Linux because:

* The performance is usually significantly better than the student desktop.  IDEs are extremely sensitive to storage latency due to the indexing required for the code completion features to operate.  We have optimised this environment to reduce as much of this latency as possible while still allowing you to store your files on a comparatively slow file server.

* We have more control over the software.  We often need to make changes to software during the semester and it can take a long time to go through ITS to make these changes happen in the Windows student desktop.

One downside of using our own Linux desktop is that you currently only have access to it from lab 3.27.  We will make sure that you are able to continue working on the Windows student desktop when you don't have access to lab 3.27.  NetBeans, Gradle, and most of the other software that we will be using will also be available to you in the student desktop.  Most of you will have NetBeans and Gradle installed on your own computers as a result of taking INFO201, so you can continue to use that in INFO202.

Take a couple of minutes to read the 'Lab Information' document on your desktop to familiarise yourself with the Linux environment.  Pay particular attention to the following sections since they contain information that you should be aware of:

* Home Folder
* Accessing your H: Drive
* Printing