The ordering of bytes within a word for a PC is different than for the HP-UX CC compiler. Since the code has to be executable on the PC and the HP, a run-time test is performed to determine if the bytes need to be reordered. Another challenge is the difference in how processing threads are implemented by different hardware and software. Linux users have a plethora of alternatives to choose from, of which Gnome and KDE appear to be the frontrunners. The Red Hat Linux systems we have been developing with use Gnome by default, so we have been using it as the desktop for our initial systems.
Developers continue to use whatever window manager they are comfortable with.
Some programmers consider Unix and Linux themselves to be large and powerful IDEs. While there are tools available under Linux that address these areas, none are quite as easy to use. We have been using gprof, Electric Fence, and debugging malloc libraries among others. The current hardware delivered to the WFOs necessitates innovative solutions to using the PC in the forecast offices. The current forecast office has an FDDI ring and a network switch to support ethernet-type devices.