bored with fedora...

v8s10blazer · #1 15th June 2005, 02:58 AM

Back a few years ago when i started using linux, it was really fun and interesting.. Like setting up an email server or domain controller or DNS... But ive accomplished that and now i just cant find any real reason to turn on my linux machine to play with it... Its almost impossible to sell a linux server in the area i live in so maybe there is something else i can provide and make open source a bigger part of peoples lives around here...

Obviously theres got to be something out there to interest me... So heres my question... What do you guys do with your linux computers... Surely you just dont stare at the desktop and say WOW! i have linux now!

Any ideas, something to setup or research... Maybe even program something... I ask this question because since i have a lot of free time i could probably add something to the open source community...

-thanks for any ideas..

strikeforce · #2 15th June 2005, 03:11 AM

Once I got to your point I started learning or am starting to learn how to bash script and program in python as well as php. The main reason for this is so that I can help out in the open source software movement.

I will always support open source and theres heaps of programs out there that need help. If you don't like something change it. In the process however contribute to the community.

jtang613 · #3 15th June 2005, 03:34 AM

My Linux box is really just a tool - a means to an end. Sure, it's tweaked finer than a Ferrari, but it's main function is to run my everyday applications (Firefox, Thunderbird, Multimedia, etc) and to serve as a development system for the various embedded electronics, robotics and software projects that I use to keep my engineering skills current.

Any spare CPU cycles are dedicated to the Folding@Home project (see link in sig). It's similar to the famous Seti@Home, but has more tangible scientific value.

m2c,
Jason

v8s10blazer · #4 15th June 2005, 06:14 AM

JT,

The embeded electronics you were talking about sounds really interesting. I am not an engineer, but i believe i can learn. Could you give me some books that may be of interest to me? I saw O'reily had building linux embeded systems but im not sure if its something good for a begineer or not.

-thanks guys... Ill look into more php things.. Thres got to be something i can make..

marion · #5 15th June 2005, 06:20 AM

One of the biggest things that I've seen that Linux needs is an interface to go with Ndiswrapper.

Despite the very clear and well written instructions on the wiki site, people still have issues trying to install it.

I envisioned one day taking on the task, but so far the only thing I can do with C is print "Hello World" back to the screen, and that's just not going to cut it.

strikeforce · #6 15th June 2005, 06:27 AM

LOL you and me both. I have high hopes for me learning to program so I can contribute back to the community that supported me when I was a nub. Trust me I had a few people have a go at me about how to ask questions.

I'm hoping though with all the patient people out there that one day I can contribute back to help out the other nubs since I was one to at one stage.

jtang613 · #7 15th June 2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by v8s10blazer

JT,

The embeded electronics you were talking about sounds really interesting. I am not an engineer, but i believe i can learn. Could you give me some books that may be of interest to me? I saw O'reily had building linux embeded systems but im not sure if its something good for a begineer or not.

Funny you should ask. Come to think of it, I've never actually read any books on 'embedded', most what what I know on the subject I picked up from peripheral college subjects like analog/digital circuit design, microprocessor interfacing and C / assembly / realtime coding, etc... oh, and a lot of studying and prototyping.

A beginner book on electronics theory is a good place to start. That reminds me of an excellent series of eBooks I came across not too long ago. I highly recommend these to anyone interested in Circuit Analysis and Electronics. And they are free:
http://www.faqs.org/docs/electric/

Unfortunately, a good understanding of electronic theory is required for most aspects of hardware design. But there are numerous manufacturers who have ready-made products that can reduce the amount of hardware design invloved, leaving the focus on coding.
http://www.technologicalarts.com/
http://www.gumstix.com/

I use a few Technological Arts products, since I'm very familiar with Motorola (Freescale) MCUs. Many of their products are compatible with the HC12 gcc port at:
http://m68hc11.serveftp.org/m68hc11_port.php

RedHat also has released a RealTime OS to the GNU.
http://sources.redhat.com/ecos/

Hope this is enough to get you started, and not scare you away

Jason

v8s10blazer · #8 15th June 2005, 07:31 PM

Wow thanks for the info jason!! Im not an electronics expert, but i do have a basic understanding of voltage and things like that. I do a lot of automotive work for fun and many of the engine sensors use voltage to communicate with the computer to what exactly is going on...

Hmmm ndiswrapper would be neat to have a gui with... It would probably be easiest to control it via a webbrowser with PHP... Just like webmin does... I might look up on it and see what i can/cant do! Problem is getting people to compile their own kernels... FC3 is somewhat harder since you cant just download the source in a tar.gz, its only source rpms that you have to build from... REd hat has a good how to on it and it wasnt too hard for me... But somone who just installed fedora i think it would be way over their heads...

BandC · #9 15th June 2005, 09:06 PM

I suggest you learn to program. Programming is an open-ended universe. There are so many open source projects, there has to be something that interests you. Check sourceforge.net. If you read these forums, you will notice that there are problem tasks or nice to have things everybody wants: like the ndiswrapper GUI, or a nice GUI that edits GNOME menus successfully. Do one of those most wanted things and everybody will love you.

foolish · #10 15th June 2005, 11:14 PM

I use my computer just as any personal computer, the fact that it's running linux and free software doesn't change that. I do my homework, I listen to music, I write emails, I browse the Internet, I chat with friends, I read this forum, I just use the damned thing.