Well, a small comment in the shoutbox caused several guys to download Ubuntu. Good choice, I like it! Here's a walkthrough to programming a PICAXE in it.
STEP 1) Download the Linux Axepad here- http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/software/linaxepad_100.tar.gz
STEP 2) Extract the files to a folder on your desktop called "LinAXEPad" or whatever you want to call it.
STEP 3) To open the application, simply double click on the "LinAXEPad" executable file inside your folder. You can make a link to it by right clicking on it and clicking on "Make Link" and putting the link on your desktop.
HOWEVER: If you use a USB PICAXE cable (AXE027) then you need the drivers.
Step 4) Acess your harddrive. It should be called "Filesystem" by default.
Step 5) Navigate to /etc/udev/rules.d/ IMPORTANT:OPEN THE "rule.d" by RIGHT CLICKING ON IT AND SELECTING "OPEN AS ROOT" You will have to type your password.
Step 6) Your background of the window should be pink. If not, re-read step 5. Right click anywhere in the window and select
CREATE FILE>EMPTY DOCUMENT
Step 7) Open the new file. A text editor should pop up. Simply paste the following:
# /etc/udev/rules.d/99-axe027.rules
# contains axe027 udev rule to patch default
# FTDI product id to AXE027 product id (0xbd90)
SYSFS{idProduct}=="bd90", SYSFS{idVendor}=="0403", RUN+="/sbin/modprobe -q ftdi_sio product=0xbd90 vendor=0x0403"
Step 8) Save the document as
99-axe027.rules
Step 9) Restart your computer to make the changes permanent.
Note: you can do step 5 in the terminal if you want. simply run:
sudo kwrite /etc/udev/rules.d/99-axe027.rules
Please leave a question or contact me if you have trouble!