Kubuntu Rocks + Java Linux Question

Hi All,

First a little history and then my question …

I had given up on Linux after the release of the Mac Mini since it provided me with the small form factor and the stability without having to wade through all sorts of esoteric Linux stuff - Neil and Iona each have one it their heads and all has been good since.

I am developing a new series of artworks that requires an even smaller form factor than the Mini (without dissecting the little bugger). I had heard good things about Kunbuntu Linux so I took one of the Mini-ITX boards from my pre-mini days and figured I would give it a try. For the record, the recent release of Kubuntu Linux rocks! (super easy to install, wonderful interface, yadda, yadda, could totally replace Mac or Windows desktop IMHO - give it a try)

That is, except for how slowly my java 1.4.2 application runs on it using my kind of oldish via mini-itx boards. I use one of the same boards to run Windows, running the same application is not nearly as slow, so I do not think its totally the hardware.

OK, so my question is … has anyone out there played with mini-itx boards running a flavor of Linux setup for the sole purpose of running Java full screen? If so, do you mind sharing your experience?

Thank You,
Jason Van Anden
www.smileproject.com

Comments

, Pall Thayer

Hi Jason,
It's a somewhat common problem with Linux that java apps tend to run
slower than on other systems. You could try to pinpoint where the
slowdown is occurring in your application by printing out some timing
stuff here and there and then see if there's a way of speeding it up.
I think you could also try running a profiler to see what's slowing
it down. Sysprof is one for Linux: http://www.daimi.au.dk/~sandmann/
sysprof/

There's also a Java profiler at http://www.yourkit.com/download/
index.jsp it's not free but you can get a 15 day evaluation license.

I've never tried either of these profilers though, I've never even
used a profiler before but they're supposed to be for analyzing
problems like yours.

I tried installing Kubuntu on a machine a while back and had endless
problems with it. But I did just install a copy of plain Ubuntu 6.06
on a box yesterday and it was fabulously easy (that is, once I
figured out that the cd-rom drive was faulty and replaced it). Huge
leap from spending several days on installing Linux just a few years
ago.

So, um… has anyone tried ChristianUbuntu? http://
www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-
christian-edition.html

Hey, maybe we should create ArtUbuntu.

Pall

On 15.9.2006, at 07:41, Jason Van Anden wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> First a little history and then my question …
>
> I had given up on Linux after the release of the Mac Mini since it
> provided me with the small form factor and the stability without
> having to wade through all sorts of esoteric Linux stuff - Neil and
> Iona each have one it their heads and all has been good since.
>
> I am developing a new series of artworks that requires an even
> smaller form factor than the Mini (without dissecting the little
> bugger). I had heard good things about Kunbuntu Linux so I took
> one of the Mini-ITX boards from my pre-mini days and figured I
> would give it a try. For the record, the recent release of Kubuntu
> Linux rocks! (super easy to install, wonderful interface, yadda,
> yadda, could totally replace Mac or Windows desktop IMHO - give it
> a try)
>
> That is, except for how slowly my java 1.4.2 application runs on it
> using my kind of oldish via mini-itx boards. I use one of the same
> boards to run Windows, running the same application is not nearly
> as slow, so I do not think its totally the hardware.
>
> OK, so my question is … has anyone out there played with mini-itx
> boards running a flavor of Linux setup for the sole purpose of
> running Java full screen? If so, do you mind sharing your experience?
>
> Thank You,
> Jason Van Anden
> www.smileproject.com
> +
> -> post: [email protected]
> -> questions: [email protected]
> -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/
> subscribe.rhiz
> -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> +
> Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/
> 29.php
>




Pall Thayer
[email protected]
http://www.this.is/pallit

, Jason Van Anden

Hey Pall,

Thank you for the feedback. Every so often I peek in at what is going
on with Linux because of the potential it has for dedicated embedded
systems - for installations/kiosks and robotics. Keeping in mind that
as of yet, there is no OS that is without its issues (ever try
developing an application using java + mac + serial ports?) I think
K/Ubuntu may be the best thing around.

Creating an art-ubuntu is a great idea, or at least distributing the
effort to get a system working with docs that describe how to do it.
I have been taking copious notes as I have been sorting out the
software/hardware stuff and intend to share this info once I found the
right recipe (for instance - howto install a magic touch driver or how
to get java 1.4.2 working took about a day of research and trial and
error that need not be repeated by others - the next thing I know I am
going to have difficulty with is getting the java comm stuff to work
properly).

Jason Van Anden
www.smileproject.com







On 9/15/06, Pall Thayer <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Jason,
> It's a somewhat common problem with Linux that java apps tend to run
> slower than on other systems. You could try to pinpoint where the
> slowdown is occurring in your application by printing out some timing
> stuff here and there and then see if there's a way of speeding it up.
> I think you could also try running a profiler to see what's slowing
> it down. Sysprof is one for Linux: http://www.daimi.au.dk/~sandmann/
> sysprof/
>
> There's also a Java profiler at http://www.yourkit.com/download/
> index.jsp it's not free but you can get a 15 day evaluation license.
>
> I've never tried either of these profilers though, I've never even
> used a profiler before but they're supposed to be for analyzing
> problems like yours.
>
> I tried installing Kubuntu on a machine a while back and had endless
> problems with it. But I did just install a copy of plain Ubuntu 6.06
> on a box yesterday and it was fabulously easy (that is, once I
> figured out that the cd-rom drive was faulty and replaced it). Huge
> leap from spending several days on installing Linux just a few years
> ago.
>
> So, um… has anyone tried ChristianUbuntu? http://
> www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-
> christian-edition.html
>
> Hey, maybe we should create ArtUbuntu.
>
> Pall
>
> On 15.9.2006, at 07:41, Jason Van Anden wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > First a little history and then my question …
> >
> > I had given up on Linux after the release of the Mac Mini since it
> > provided me with the small form factor and the stability without
> > having to wade through all sorts of esoteric Linux stuff - Neil and
> > Iona each have one it their heads and all has been good since.
> >
> > I am developing a new series of artworks that requires an even
> > smaller form factor than the Mini (without dissecting the little
> > bugger). I had heard good things about Kunbuntu Linux so I took
> > one of the Mini-ITX boards from my pre-mini days and figured I
> > would give it a try. For the record, the recent release of Kubuntu
> > Linux rocks! (super easy to install, wonderful interface, yadda,
> > yadda, could totally replace Mac or Windows desktop IMHO - give it
> > a try)
> >
> > That is, except for how slowly my java 1.4.2 application runs on it
> > using my kind of oldish via mini-itx boards. I use one of the same
> > boards to run Windows, running the same application is not nearly
> > as slow, so I do not think its totally the hardware.
> >
> > OK, so my question is … has anyone out there played with mini-itx
> > boards running a flavor of Linux setup for the sole purpose of
> > running Java full screen? If so, do you mind sharing your experience?
> >
> > Thank You,
> > Jason Van Anden
> > www.smileproject.com
> > +
> > -> post: [email protected]
> > -> questions: [email protected]
> > -> subscribe/unsubscribe: http://rhizome.org/preferences/
> > subscribe.rhiz
> > -> give: http://rhizome.org/support
> > +
> > Subscribers to Rhizome are subject to the terms set out in the
> > Membership Agreement available online at http://rhizome.org/info/
> > 29.php
> >
>
>
>
> –
> Pall Thayer
> [email protected]
> http://www.this.is/pallit
>
>
>
>
>



Jason Van Anden
http://www.smileproject.com