Linux related software

HTML Editor: I like Quanta Plus, but you should also try Bluefish

FTP: I usually connect directly using places > connect to server. Otherwise just FireFTP in Firefox.

I haven't noticed any problems with FF in UB 8.10...

Congrats on getting rid of MS!!

For HTML editor, you can try something like Bluefish, it's got a similar interface to notepad++ so it shouldn't take too much effort to get comfortable with.

As for FTP client, try gFTP or possibly even FireFTP if you're using Firefox?

I don't use any firewall or anti virus software on my computer so can't recommend any of those

Edit: ha! Megan beat me to Bluefish and FireFTP

HTML editor:

I used Bluefish for a long period of time as well, but I recently had to pull away from it because it doesn't play well with a dark theme. Using gEdit combined with a couple plugins & Gnome's remote filesystem support has worked very well for me recently.

FTP:

Nautilus (like explorer for Gnome) is the best and easiest. Just fire up a file browser, and hit button to the left of the location bar to toggle between button and text-based location information. Then type in ftp://example.com and log in. gFTP is another good program if you are looking for a closer replacement to smartftp.

Firewall and antivirus:

I don't have anti-virus because I don't need it, and I don't have a firewall on my desktop because all internet traffic is routed through my Ubuntu Home server, and I do have a firewall setup on that one...it's just using iptables though.

Cheers

An example is you two recommending bluefish...I went to add/remove, typed bluefish, ticked a box clicked a button and it's installed.
Fantastic!
(and of course entered my password, which is also a well sorted idea IMO)

I tried Fireftp before and didn't like it. I'm sure it was because it didn't have the remote and local viewers, although I seem to remember a future additions list having it to be included. Maybe that's been added now...

Problem with using the direct connect option (places > connect to server) is I like to work on local files then upload them. That way I have an automatic backup of everything I do on my local HD. Which is why I like an FTP client with remote and local folder views.

For an html editor I just used gedit when I had an Ubuntu desktop.

For ftp you could try filezilla, if I remember from when I used it last it has a local and ftp panel.

I never installed a firewall but for viruses I think the one I used was called clam av or something like that, avast also has a free linux version. I know the MS versions of avast were good, yet to try the linux version.

Also Greg, love the sig

So I got rid of MS finally and am using Ubuntu 8.10, and am having to look for some alternatives for the stuff I used to use.

Congrats.

HTML editor - I got very familiar with Notepad++, and although can be used on Linux, it looks to be a pointless task of messing around to get it to run when there are already loads available for linux.
So what do you use?
Looking for something that has min of coloured highlighting for PHP/CSS/HTML.

gEdit comes with Ubuntu Applications -> Accessories -> Text Editor and can be made quite powerful through the use of plugins. Also, as gEdit comes with the desktop package, the two are well integrated.

It's also worth noting that Eclipse works under Ubuntu (not my cup of tea though), in case you ever need a fully fledged IDE.

If you've ever got some free time, learn Vim. All the ladies love a man who has crazy 1337 Vim skillz, I'm always being asked out on dates because of it (though I turn them all down, of course)!

FTP - what do you use?

Same as Megan, Places -> Connect to Server, then either open the files directly in gEdit (or 'Text Editor as Ubuntu calls it), or Vim; saves then go directly to the server. It's a lot faster than switching applications all the time, plus I mostly use SSH for file transfers these days: it's more secure.

On the odd occasion, where an old skool FTP transfer program is needed, I use FireFTP. It certainly has the local and remote viewers now, must have been a while since you tried it last.

Firewall and antivirus .... ?
Do you Linuxers use either/both? I read many people stating why not to bother with an antivirus, and I'm inclined to agree, but no firewall?

Ubuntu has this philosophy about firewalls: if you don't install services that listen on outside ports in the first place, you don't need one (of course, netfilter/iptables is built-in to Linux, but I wouldn't recommend it to newbies).

If you really want a firewall, grab a copy of Firestarter. Also, for LAMP configuration, have a look at Rapache.

Also, does anyone else use Ubuntu 8.10?

Yes!

If so, do you get some weird issues with firefox?

One of the extensions I use occassionally stops the right-click menu appearing, and/or selects Back without my actually clicking. Am pretty certain it's an extension that's causing the problem.

However, for all it's a flag ship FLOSS product, Firefox devs really don't seem to care much about their GNU/Linux version, apparently the up-coming version is going to be better in that respect. Faster load times, speedier browsing, bug fixes, etc.

And the top window bar in Firefox (the very top bit that says "firefox") sometimes has broken graphics, the bar is diagonally split with a thick grayed out area. Hovering over the max/min/close icons on the top right seems to resolve this.

That's weird, can't say I've ever seen/heard of that problem. You could try turning off the visual effects, some graphics card issue might be causing this, try selecting: System -> Preferences -> Appearance -> Visual Effects, then click the None option.

Speaking of visual effects, turn the effects back on and install CompizConfig (it installs under System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager). Hours of fun!

For FTP you could also try konqueror. It would work the same as connecting to the server in nautlius but you can have a split window view. That way you can have your local file system on one side and the remote view on the other side.

Got fireftp, although it's very basic, so might be trying out other options.
It doesn't even allow drag and drop from local to remote..maybe I missed something but it's not changeable in the main options.

Just discovered something else too, perhaps not useful, in fact maybe considered a performance hog, but is cool all the same.
When I hover over a music file it plays it.

Had me confused for 10 seconds mind.

FTP - You mean SFTP, right?! Filezilla does both, though most others claim (as they should) the same. FTP sends both user/pass, and info you are sending in clear text, so a sniffer could (and will, if you routinely offer up something juicy) capture both your system account, and your db user/pass if you're sending that sort of thing...

Firewall and antivirus .... ?
The day you let your guard down is the day you'll get hacked/infected. Any OS is vulnerable.

Sure, not many services are installed by default, but there are some. Then there's the ones you are going to add. One day you'll want to check out some little script so you install a web server, a database... and that little php script here, oh, and that one over there! And then you forget about them for an hour, a day, or a year. Just a little XSS vulnerability can lead to all sorts of shenanigans.

In an ideal world, you've authorized all network traffic going into and heading out of your machine(s) with a firewall, or two.

Also, you have friends, family and business contacts that use MS products right? Want to keep them as friends? A smug "I didn't get it cause I use Linux" doesn't smooth things over all that well when you forward something to a friend that wipes out their life's work. (Though a "Don't you have backups?" should! )

I use clamav on my mail servers to scan incoming mail for users before they get to touch it. I'm guessing it would do a fine job on a workstation as well.

Yikes.. A couple of posts, and I'm already getting ranty!

It's only a matter of time for a 'virus' to appear that is clever enough to exploit the same types of privilege escalation holes.

Such as...

I've just done a shields-up test, and for common ports and service ports all my ports were stealthed.

How are you connected to the internet? Do you use a router?

From PC to a router, then from router to a BT HUB which has a hardware firewall
(all hardwired)

If you go through a gateway, then you don't need a firewall on your local computer. You only need one on a computer that is exposed to the Internet.

You only may want to consider an outgoing one.

What I'm getting at is, the chance of someone actually scanning my IP and ports is slim

When you are behind a router, the chances are 0, unless you manually opened a port.

So, how come no-one has stated "you don't need a firewall"

No-one has actually said they don't use one, and I'm beginning to feel like it's not needed. (In Linux only it has to be noted)

ok thanks. Let me know if you ever get hacked

and, congrats on your thousandth post!

I don't have any firewall or anti virus software on my GNU/Linux box either. Only have them installed on my Windows machines.

When I installed my first copy of Ubuntu, I spent more than a few anxious hours on the Interwebz looking for Anti-virus software for it. Figured out pretty quick that it really was not required. No problem in a couple of years now. Glad to be rid of the Window$ OS. I'll not be looking back.

Vim??? GEdit??? Are you people joking? They used those to make punched cards during WW2.
You should be looking at a rounded IDE like NetBeans. It allows you to develop anything that you can think of, but the interface might seem a little intimidating at first. Play around for a while and you'll see the benefits if using an IDE over an editor...