Anyone using Linux instead of MS-Windows and if so any problems and advice using Linux with trading programs and platforms? Thanks, Dennis
I would highly recommend not using Linux when trading. There are just too many things that can go wrong… especially when money is involved. Ya you could uses java based platforms or do something like WINE, but being a one time linux user, I wouldn’t recommend it for trading!!!:eek:
Thanks-----Vista keeps giving me problem so i was thinking about trying Ubuntu Linux 2007??
Oh well I 'll figure out something freaking Vista!:mad:
Too clarify… how experienced are you with linux ? I was pretty good with it, but I still wouldn’t trust it with my money with my expertise. And ya Vista sux, I eventually gave in too, but as long as you have a fairly stout system (computer) it shouldn’t have too many problems, most of the major kinks have been worked out
And before I miss your point entirely what kind of vista problems are you having ?
I use Oanda FX trade on my debian distro but it gets a little buggy sometimes and the charts wont show. Imma try setting up MT4, looks interesting
Yeah, either resurrect this one, or start a new one…
Have platforms under Linux gotten any better?
MT4 works no problem on Linux with Wine.
Thanks for the response!
Anyone use Virtual Box or similar with the platform?
used to use Ubuntu for years, but java updates were a PITA which made my platform “not work so good”. ditched it, paid the $100 to get Win7 and been happy ever since.
You’re not wrong there!! If actually updating it wasn’t bad enough, some updates makes the Java stuff crash, my old Linux machine runs MT4 better than it does Oanda Java web platform, my main is Win 7.
Once you have a good Linux system set up disable ALL updates.
Java, purge, uninstall all Java and install sun Java, disable updates.
But then the Java apps go, Can’t run this, You must update, arrrghhh
Before you purge the free Java packages, install Sun’s package. Then purge the free Java. This will retain all your Java apps.
or bite the bullet and realize that for SOME applications, going with Windows is just better and more predictable (albeit you DO have to run updates regularly and have a good antivirus going & scanning at least once a week)
I would agree with SoL. I use Debian for all my PCs at home and work, but there are some programs that don’t have a stable Linux package. CAD and some engineering related programs. But they are becoming more common. For Windows apps that aren’t ported to Linux, I use VirtualBox and install it on my Windows guest.
I just tried OANDA, which resulted in a couple Java class related errors, I don’t want to take the time to de-bug, so I’m going to load MT4 into VBox just to get to the feel of it.
It’s nice to see Linux some Linux users on here. It’s somewhat annoying that developers for Forex and investing don’t give the direct support for it, much like Netflix. Usually you have play around and tinker with it. When it does work though it’s pretty neat. Having virtiual desktops helps when you’re flipping around and trying to organize charts and market news. A word of caution though. There are glitches at times. You also want to have a snappy computer with a good amount of RAM. Linux is a fast operating system, using Wine though can tax the memory and overall speed if you have a slower/older computer.
There’s a screenshot of my Linux desktop and a brief article I wrote. Please view my profile and homepage.
Yep, I’ve got a snappy PC with 8Gb RAM, I haven’t noticed any issues running my CAD apps in VBox. I prefer running apps in VBox instead of Wine, just a personal preference. I’ll check out your page, thanks!
Rich
I use Linux for daily work. I use mt4 inside a Windows xp running on a virtual machine with virtual box. No problems. Also i sometimes use wine to run mt4 but not too often.
I’ve been running MT4 exclusively in Wine for years now. I notice it takes up more CPU cycles in Ububtu than it does on Windows, which decreases battery life and increases heat on a laptop (depending on how many instances are running, and which indicators are on your chart), but besides that it’s fine. Much better than worrying about a Trojan stealing the password to my Forex account on Windows 
Over the weekend I loaded MT4 on my XP guest and played around with it. Not that I know what I’m doing with MT4, but looked at 4 pairs and it didn’t notice any problems. I figure if my CAD packages won’t choke the XP guest, MT4 won’t. My linux box is Debian, with a 64bit +2GHz AMD64, 8Gb ram.
Looking forward to finishing the school, then open a practice acct and using it…