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THE PERFECT Web Developer PC, FULL STOP.

Build a Sex-On-Legs WebDev Machine

1 Sep
build ultimate web development pc image

Want to install the ultimate web development toolbox? Best use of Linux Ubuntu, with Windows emulation via VirtualBox, Nginx, PHP, MySQL, supreme Firefox addons, Woopra and much much more. Here's the deal ..

My 2 month old HP Pavillion DV3500 decided to pack up the other day.

Looks like the motherboard, 'cos I tried another power cable and it's not that. Could be some power resource thing, I guess, but it's not the switch 'cos the damn thing was on when it died.

Basically. Bugger.

Set Up & Enhance Ubuntu 9.10 .. KARMIC KOALA BIBLE

In simple copy/paste steps .. from zero to hero.

Scroll down for the full series index.

Wake up and smell the Ubuntu! Hope it helps. the_guv

So, via a quick data salvage from the paptop, which is now in transit to Warrantyland, I've reverted to my big ol' box, a hefty HP Workstation with a case that looks like it could withstand the Russian army.

Only thing is, inside it's less Russian. I mean, any self-respecting web developer is gonna be using one of the finest shining examples of post-perestroika, the Nginx web server. And this old thing is still XAMP-heavy, albeit duly LAMP'ed on the Linux slice. I mean, I like *AMP, but I prefer Nginx to Apache - infinitesimally - and, seeing as my VPS is Nginx, so should this be.

So I figured I'd give this workstation a thrice-over, and recant the detail. Lucky you!

The Perfect Web Developer PC - The Preview

So, thus and therefore .. coming soon, starting Thursday, will be my definitive guide to the perfect webdev PC build, from blank box to cute-as shriekin' 'chine.

Here's a taster of what to expect ..

The Perfect Web Developer PC - The Shell

  • Linux Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope 9.04 Desktop Edition

    For the base install, together with its swap partition

  • Virtualbox

    Sitting inside Ubuntu, so that I can virtualise Windows XP as just another programme within Jaunty. That's a better option that dual booting, which is a pain, or Wine, which is invariably buggy, and allows for doing those things better suited to Windows than to Linux. (Yes, that is possible! .. ie, mobile ROM cooking, beta testing websites with Internet Explorer, generally swearing about proprietary software)

The Perfect Web Developer PC - The Miscellany

  • Nginx

    The local web server and way better than Apache, Lighttpd and co. Plus PHP, MySQL, whatnot

  • Quanta

    For coding, which IMHO is better than Dreamweaver, as well as free

  • Photoshop

    Via VirtualBox, cos GIMP just doesn't cut the mustard

  • Camtasia

    Via VirtualBox, 'cos there is no alternative if you're into screencasting

  • Firefox

    With the best web development addons

  • Thunderbird + Lightning

    For IMAP email and calendar

  • Tomboy

    For notes. OK, you get it anyway, but it's so handy it's worth a mention

  • Skype

    To nag clients and be nagged by my woman

  • Woopra

    For web stats

  • Other schtuff

    Numerous things I've forgotten off-hand. Suggestions?

The Perfect Web Developer PC - The Detail

  • SSH

    openSSH authorization keys to access remote web servers

  • bashrc

    Make the command line interface seriously powerful with simple shortcuts for common tasks

  • More schtuff

    More numerous things I've forgotten off-hand, again. Suggestions?

So watch out for that. OK. True to style, this guide will probably turn into a multi-parter, maybe 3 tutorial posts. Like I say, it will be definitive, and as well as outlining all the steps, I'll explain why I'm doing them, and why they are better than the common alternatives, for the most powerful web development PC known to, er, well, me.

Then you can tell me where and why I'm wrong, and I hope you do, and between us we'll conjure up a recipe so darned hot the PC will melt. Metaphorically, one hopes.

For now though, with this intro posted, the pc's drive backed up and the 9.04 disc in the tray .. sudo shutdown.

Install & Perfect Ubuntu 9.10 .. KARMIC KOALA BIBLE

Set up Koala .. tweak it to perfection .. & maximize productivity .. for work & play.

That's what the Karmic Koala Bible does, stepped out in easy copy/paste guides.

From Linux initiates to intermediates, here's what you need.

  1. Intro: Install & Perfect Ubuntu 9.10
  2. Ubuntu Desktop vs Server Edition?
  3. Plan Hard Drive Partition Strategy
  4. HOW-TO Install Ubuntu 9.10
  5. UPGRADE Jaunty 9.04 to Ubuntu 9.10
  6. apt-get v aptitude v Synaptic v Software Ctr
  7. Terminal Alias Shortcuts with bashrc
  8. Add The Best Software Repositories
  9. Safe-Upgrade 9.10 System & Packages
  10. Update Latest 9.10 Hardware Drivers
  11. Speed Up 9.10 by Disabling Services
  12. Speed Up 9.10 Boot & Personalise GRUB
  13. Optimise 9.10 SWAP with Swappiness
  14. Restore 9.10 'home' Folder from Backup
  15. SAVE TIME! Permanent Partition Mount
  16. TWEAK File Management Preferences
  17. Custom Keyboard Application Shortcuts
  18. Use Windows Key with Ubuntu 9.10
  19. HACK-PROOF 9.10 Anti-Virus & Firewall
  20. HOW-TO Disable Annoying System Beep
  21. Top 9.10 Software Picks by Category
  22. Add Application Launcher to Panel
  23. Set Preferred Startup Applications
  24. Remember Running Applications on Reboot
  25. Emulate Virtual OSes with VirtualBox

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Posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
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  1. the_guv September 11th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    "so where is it?" .. you may be asking.

    apologies, have been rather waylaid these last couple of weeks.

    this is written up but needs to be wrapped in code, so expect the short series to start next week, as well as the beginning of the end of the VPS Admin series.

    cheers folks .. guv.

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