Mail Archives: djgpp/1999/04/10/03:55:47
>Think big. Use your imagination. That's what I said, and there have
>been a few big ideas (FreeDOS, X). Cool. Think bigger. DJGPP is ten
>years old. What will the next ten years bring?
>
I thought I'd start the opening discussions...
What ever the next ten years bring, one thing I should say is that anything
we produce should be multi-platform so that the same program can be ported
across to different OSs and machines. As far as our software is concerned,
we need to have this ability to avoid becoming obsolete in years to come.
Since we can't control the underlying OS (unless we write it ourselves!),
trying to support one OS is like building a house in a earthquake zone.
Better to spread out the software across lots of different areas, and we get
a much bigger user base that way...
I think that in the next ten years, we will need to focus more on Linux, if
we are to stick to a stable platform. However - porting stuff to other
platforms is important. Here are a couple of (Linux) ideas which I had today
which could really put the the djgpp crowd right in the spotlight...
1. Linux UF project (medium term project - next five years?)
I've lost count the number of people saying that Linux is hard to use,
especially in some of the less Linux-friendly press. To get people to use it
on their desktop machine and to get a wider user base - it needs to be more
user friendly.
Although this is not perhaps a massively technical oriented project, it is
important since it what people will see and interact with when they boot up
their machines in the morning. It also allows people to get learn Linux
faster, especially those who aren't computer geeks. Since DJ was interesting
in selling a package to schools, then making Linux easier to use will
obviously do nothing but make that task easier..a sort of 'Welcome home'
pack to get people started and right into the power of the system.
How can this be achieved? I see this as being a series of add on programs,
which give distribution independant help/ hardware/software (auto?)
configuration facilities. Software installers. An on-line tutorial. Disk
tools similar to PC-Tools or such. There are hundreds of opportunities where
some easy to use software would help a clueless newbie to get his job done
without resorting to reading through a stack of books.
Once people have mastered the basics, they can then delete the bits they
don't need any more, and stick with the useful tools which gets the work
done.
This is a high visibility project, and because people will see this first
when they start with Linux, it will get around. This is something which will
get djgpp and Linux into every school and the media if executed right.
2. Games Platform (Long term project)
This is virgin territory and one where the right group of free-software
developers can really clean up. Linux has the capability to become a
excellent native games platform. To kickstart the process, what we need are
tools, to attract developers to the machine. Some of the console
manufacturers are looking at Linux as a development environment..but the PC
developers are more wary. Perhaps we can produce a free software dev kit so
that everyone, from lone hackers, to schools and Universities can write
stuff for them...
This is another high visibility project which will really get djgpp noticed
if we can pull it off..
So what do we need to get things started? Firstly, I thing that we need good
tools. 3D (based on OpenGL/Mesa) is what I thing we need to be using, and so
there are plenty of work here. Getting driver support for as much hardware
as possible. Writing a the best possible free software generic 3D engine
that everyone has access to. Writing a 3D Max Clone. Sound tools for mixing.
Network interfacing.. Artificial intelligence, Real-time physics. There are
no shortage of things to do here...
Free software libraries like Allegro are the way forward, since they allow
someone with few resources to get started and writing games across multiple
platforms. To produce games of commercial quality, we need some additional
development tools, so that we can exploit our advantage... programming games
is fun, and I learned how to program because I wanted to write my own...This
is a area which I am hoping to apply my efforts in future..well..because I
like games. Both playing and writing.
Writing 3D tools also has implications for CAD work, Medical diagnostics and
many other applications in industry and teaching. This is something which
can really filter down into peoples lives and using Linux for doing real
work! :-)
3. The CD distributions
>Example: One idea I had was to package up DJGPP, FreeDOS, an enhanced
>RHIDE, and a HUGE information/tutorial library into a "Everything You
>Need To Learn Programming - No Matter What" CDROM. Do a big marketing
>campaign to sell it to schools - package deals of CDROM, installation,
>what little training is required, and support. We can each do support
>contracts with our local schools and make some money. Eventually,
>make the package support Linux and NT also (using their compilers, of
>course - it shouldn't matter, right?) and become *the* way to learn
>programming. We could even write some tutorial-specific software,
>like integrated html viewer, BASIC (or whatnot) interpreter, graphics
>screen, IDE, and smart tutor/agent. Do a bundle of asm-like
>simulators designed not for debugging, but for teaching. Combine
>Allegro, Perl/BASIC/whatever, and RHIDE to make a "Learn Programming
>by Writing Arcade Games" bundle.
>Example: Do a "DJGPP/Linux" distribution, which is a Linux bundle
>specifically designed for users who will run DJGPP programs in DOSEMU
>(although *I* don't see the point in that ;). Include a cross
>compiler, native djgpp and linux tools, but toss all the multi
>user/server stuff (i.e. make a dos-like machine with a linux kernel).
>Prepackage it with all the usual DJGPP goodies installed by default.
>Add a point-n-click admin tool that really covers 100% of all the
>stuff it comes with (you can do this if you limit what it comes with).
>Start with a raw Linux kernel and build it up from there, dos-style
>(config.sys, autoexec.bat anyone? (ick)).
Certainly getting into schools and offices with well written software like
this is the way to go. Simple, well written software without any corporate
hype. The only problem I can see is that some companies tend to go for a
'Total Microsoft Solution' (as has my own office) and all other third party
software (like djgpp :-( ) under the 'zero maintenance' option, so that
people can't then have problems using any other software they're not
supposed to have access to. I think that we need to sell free software
better to those who have sense, before the clueless managers who think that
total control is the way to go - to give them an easy life...
As for a 'Virtual company' with a org chart etc..not a bad idea - but I
would not like to make it too restrictive, since most people are doing work
here for 'fun' rather than for 'proper' work. Perhaps a project - led chart?
Pencil me in for the catering officer - I can cook! :-D
---
Arron Shutt
version8 AT ashutt DOT demon DOT co DOT uk -- www.ashutt.demon.co.uk
"You can jump all you like but it's the day of the cow" - Mike Keneally
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