Installing Linux

If you would like to install Ubuntu, see this page. You will most likely need an installation LiveCD, from which you can install the operating system. If it's going to be the only OS on your computer, the process is fairly straightforward. However, most team members are loath to part with OSX or Windows, and thus run VirtualBox or dual-boot.

OSX + Ubuntu

If you're going to dual-boot a Mac, see [this page](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MactelSupportTeam/AppleIntelInstallation#Dual-Boot: Mac OSX and Ubuntu), which describes one way to dual-boot OSX and Ubuntu. This method will definitely work for a Snow Leopard/Maverick Meerkat dual boot. A few tips, mostly reiterating things that are already in the linked instructions :

• Do install rEFIt. It's nice.
• Use DiskUtility to shrink the Mac partition on your hard drive, and choose free space as the format of the new partition.
• If DiskUtility refuses to partition the hard drive, try repairing it by booting from a Snow Leopard installation CD.
• If rEFIt is not picking up the CD, hold down alt during boot. You will be able to select the CD from there.
• Partitions can conform to your personal taste, but here's one definitely functional partitioning scheme:
  • /dev/sda1 = fat32, EFI
  • /dev/sda2 = hfs+, Mac
  • /dev/sda3 = ext4, Ubuntu (boot loader here)
  • /dev/sda4 = linux-swap (see this)
• MAKE SURE to put your boot loader in the Linux partition. The picture in the linked instructions refers to an "Advanced" button, but in the 10.10 installer it is simply a drop-down menu in the partitions dialog. Don't miss it.
• You may not need to fix the partition tables like it says in the last step.

Windows + Ubuntu

If you're going to dual-boot with Windows, check this out. Add some tips and tricks here if you actually do this.

Ubuntu Tips

If this is your first experience with Ubuntu, explore a little! There are some fun tools out there. Try gnome-do:

$> sudo apt-get install gnome-do

And, of course, install emacs for coding:

$> sudo apt-get install emacs23

Furthermore, make sure to customize everything so that you're comfortable. If you use emacs and are particularly attached to your control key, make caps lock an extra control via System->Preferences->Keyboard->Layouts->Ctrl key position. Check out the mouse settings in System->Preferences->Mouse.