I have X up and running under Gentoo 2006.1. With this version of Gentoo, you can no longer put /usr/X11R6 on a separate partition since they require a symlink to …/usr now. I don’t care for that as I always had /usr/X11R6 on a separate partition until now with the new Gentoo. Oh well, I will deal with it.
Firefox just finished building and I’m building Thunderbird now. I use Thunderbird for my E-Mail since I can run the same client under every OS I use. Same goes for Firefox/Mozilla.
I’ll probably start a build for KDE 3.5.5 later and let it run for a few days. Yes, I said days, and that’s about what it takes to build a full KDE on this 733 MHz Pentium 3 with 192 Meg of RAM.
I have to transfer my DNS files over to the bind server I built today and I have Apache2 already built. I still need to build PHP. Once I get bind running with my current files, I can spend more time in Linux.
I wish I could program my Basic ATOM from Linux… I don’t know when I will be able to get my other PC fixed.
I got DNS up and running tonight, so I can work more in Linux now. I just started a build of KDELIBS.
I am looking for Open Source software to write software and program PICs now. Since I can’t program the Basic ATOM currently serving as the brain for W.A.L.T.E.R., I have to look at other possibilities. This may not be a bad thing…
So far, I have found a C compiler that runs under Linux, but it has some limitations on memory usage, and the full version costs major money ($950.00). If anyone knows of any Linux compatible C or other language software that can be used for writing softwre for the ‘F’ series PICs, specifically the 18F and dsPIC families, please chime in! There is software to program PICs under Linux, but I need good compilers also.
I know there is a lot of Linux and Open Source software for the Atmel AVR microcontrollers, so I am looking into this also.
I am also looking at maybe getting something like a Gumstix setup also, since it runs Linux.
I posted this on the long thread about Pete’s PIC board, but I found some Linux PIC tools here forum.microchip.com/tm.aspx?m=94243. I haven’t tried them yet, let me know if you try them and have any luck.
I’ll check these out. Thanks for the link! I notice it says that C30 is ported GCC. Well, if that is true, then how can Microchip sell it and have a clear concience?
Wow, you’re right. Most of their C30 compiler is GPLed as it is a derivative of gcc. However, their optimizer and standard PIC C library are not GPLed.
One thing to mention is I can legally sell you anying GPLed program, for whatever I chose, even if I didn’t write it, so long as I give you a copy of the sources along with the binary. Since they do give the non-commercial version away for free, and let anyone who downloaded it download the sources, this is all legal. Hence, like the readme says, this is an ususual use of the GPL. I’m not sure RMS would approve, or GPL 3.0 would still allow it, etc.
However, what Microchip is really selling is the commercial liscense, their optomizer and library code (which is not GPLed) and a support contract.
This project attempts to replace those two pieces with GPLed code for a fully GPLed C30 compilier. I’m kind of surprised Microchip let this happen on their forum (nothing in the GPL says they’d have to). So I actually think this shows them in a good light.
OK, well, I guess if the GPL allows it then it’s OK. It is a bit of an odd use of the GPL though.
I sure hope the project succeeds, because there are just not many resources for Open Source PIC tools under Linux. I have only found one C compiler so far, and it is limited after 30 or 60 days (memory usage, I think).
Right now, I can’t make up my mind whether to get a Gumstix controller setup, fix my Windows PC, or maybe move into the AVR MPU type for robotics since Open Source tools are plentiful for them. The money I would spend to do either of the three options is about the same.
I’ll probably end up fixing my Windows PC, and then get together the rest of the parts and some boards to build a couple of Pete’s dual PIC board. I almost have all the ICs together now. Then at least I can continue to work on W.A.L.T.E.R. too. I also have two SSC-32’s now, so I have one for my BRAT also.
As I look for Open Source stuff to use, I am thinking more and more about getting a Gumstix controller set. One of the guys from Open Servo has a 400 MHz Gumstix (I want the one with Bluetooth) with a Waysmall STUART (two serial ports and USB client) and a NetCF (10/100 Ethernet and a CF slot) and that setup seems to work well for him.
