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-   -   What should a total noob learn before tinkering with DSL or Linux? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/what-should-a-total-noob-learn-before-tinkering-with-dsl-or-linux-813265/)

wwor2002 06-09-2010 11:43 PM

What should a total noob learn before tinkering with DSL or Linux?
 
Dear Wise Ones, I am a total noob completely inexperienced in the field of programming except for a short stint in MS-DOS more than a decade ago.

Now I have been assigned with a very important task of trying to figure out how to install and edit DSL or a similar OS on a digital photo frame.

My question to you would be.. what should I learn first before attempting much a new project? Should I learn C++ or GUI or..?

Really appreciate any inputs from the teachers in here. Thank you.

linuxlover.chaitanya 06-10-2010 12:17 AM

I think first thing you should learn is how to install the distribution you want, without affecting much of the current setup. Once that is done, you can move around looking for making it to work the way you want starting from look and feel to how to install the required softwares and compilers. And if you are onto Mac OS, which is also based on Unix, you should be able to learn commands pretty easily.

chrism01 06-10-2010 12:44 AM

This is a good Linux tutorial http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz
and for background intro http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

wwor2002 06-10-2010 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxlover.chaitanya (Post 3998533)
I think first thing you should learn is how to install the distribution you want, without affecting much of the current setup. Once that is done, you can move around looking for making it to work the way you want starting from look and feel to how to install the required softwares and compilers. And if you are onto Mac OS, which is also based on Unix, you should be able to learn commands pretty easily.

Hi Chaitanya, Damn Small Linux will be the Default OS setup on the digital photo frame.

Actually I am not into any OS at all. So this is gonna be a huge learning curve for me.

Are you saying that it is not necessary to learn C or C++ then? I know that I have to learn some GUI cos i have to modify the appearance of the screen.

shai333 06-10-2010 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwor2002 (Post 3998568)
Now I have been assigned with a very important task of trying to figure out how to install and edit DSL or a similar OS on a digital photo frame.

My question to you would be.. what should I learn first before attempting much a new project? Should I learn C++ or GUI or..?

You don't need to know programming to install DSL, or any linux distribution for that matter.

What exactly are you supposed to do with it besides installing it?

If you only need to install it and change some settings then that shouldn't be too difficult,
but if you give more details maybe you will get better advice.

pixellany 06-10-2010 06:05 AM

Have you used DSL in anything? It seems that it is not active---last release was in late 2008.

linus72 06-10-2010 06:25 AM

yep
DSL split into 2 pieces
and one side started up Tinycore
http://tinycorelinux.com/
Quote:

how to install and edit DSL or a similar OS on a digital photo frame.
as for installing a desktop linux into a picture frame
not sure ...
does it have a drive or what?

pixellany 06-10-2010 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linus72 (Post 3998810)
yep
DSL split into 2 pieces
and one side started up Tinycore
...

And the other side???

linus72 06-10-2010 06:36 AM

oh
hey pix
heres the news on the DSL split
http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?is...090323#feature

Quote:

DW: You appear to have made many contributions to DSL and have been instrumental in making it the popular distribution that it is. Why did you leave the project?

RS: There were many reasons why I no longer work on DSL, a culmination of personal attacks and accusations against me, disagreements and irreconcilable differences. Actually, I didn't ever leave, I was in fact exiled and locked out by John Andrews. My posts in the DSL blog consisting of all I wrote was deleted. A list that others were constructing of all customizations of DSL, showing mostly my name as the creator of said innovation, were also deleted. It was messy.
far as I know John hasn't continued DSL...

EDIT: Robert is the guy who invented the "MyDSL" concept, etc
while John was into the Debian hdd install side
seems it was a conflict of philosophy?

MTK358 06-10-2010 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwor2002 (Post 3998514)
Should I learn C++ or GUI or..?

WTF?

C++ is a compiled, low-level programming language, NOT a user interface.

Linux's command line uses the BASH shell. To a degree BASH is a bit of an interpreted programming language, but it's designed mostly as a user interface.

A GUI is a user interface based on graphics and a pointer. Unlike that other popular OS, the GUI is not built-in to Linux. If you want a GUI, you have to install X.org, which is a GUI that runs as a normal program.

See the tutorials in my sig.

onebuck 06-10-2010 08:06 AM

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' would be one link you should look at to help us to help you in the future.

Baby steps! You need to compose a well thought out description list of what you wish to attain. The task(s) you've been given seem to be monumental at this time but if you break things down to allow identifying each into a sub group by expansion you will then be able to get to the final product. What is the frames architecture? You need to identify how the frame inits. Will it allow secondary execution(s)? The above link should help you to compose a clear picture (pun intended).

Just a few more links to aid you;

Linux Documentation Project
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Linux Command Guide
Utimate Linux Newbie Guide
LinuxSelfHelp
Getting Started with Linux
Bash Reference Manual
Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux Home Networking
Virtualiation- Top 10

:hattip:
The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just SlackwareŽ links!

theNbomr 06-10-2010 10:03 AM

If your task has a time limit of under 1 year, then the best advice would be to hire someone experienced in these matters. If you find the concept of installing an OS on a PC challenging, then porting an OS to a system which has little to no support for doing so is an unrealistic goal. I'm not trying to be disparaging here, just warn you that your objective is beyond non-trivial. To assess whether the task is even do-able is non trivial.

You are going to need to learn a lot about low-level elements of Linux that most end users and even sysadmins never even think about. You are probably going to need to learn a bunch about embedded systems, cross development, and possibly some electronics and lower level digital systems. As a bit of a benchmark, find a forum dedicated to embedded systems, and see the kinds of questions that people are asking, and the answers that they get. Even for products which are designed and documented for skilled developers to port OS's and software to, there are still numerous problems that take a lot of knowledge and experience to solve.

Having said all of this, it is still a Good Thing(tm) to learn a new skill, and building an OS from scratch is a good one. Start by just installing a full-on Linux distro on a PC. Progress by building and installing a scaled down Linux on something less well endowed than a desktop PC, like any number of single-board computers available for few dollars. Learn how Linux boots, and what all of the low-level software elements do, and how to manage them. By then, you will have questions that will lead to your stated goal.

Good luck.

--- rod.

jefro 06-10-2010 04:23 PM

I'd be willing to bet you need more help than you think. A digital frame is not what dsl is ported to. You will have to find out a lot about the design of the photo frame first before you even start on the OS.

wwor2002 06-10-2010 11:39 PM

hello teachers,

my project is very simple

i need to buy a cpu, some ram, a circuit board and a lcd display,

then i am gonna install a barebones linux os onto the memory,

that os is gonna play a photo slideshow

i am also gonna install a time settings program into the whole setup..

based on http://www.quepublishing.com/article....aspx?p=375500

it should be quite straightforward isn't it?

the following page also shows how damn small linux is installed onto some old comps.

http://likelysoft.com/hacks/pictureframes.shtml

wwor2002 06-11-2010 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theNbomr (Post 3999063)
If your task has a time limit of under 1 year, then the best advice would be to hire someone experienced in these matters. If you find the concept of installing an OS on a PC challenging, then porting an OS to a system which has little to no support for doing so is an unrealistic goal. I'm not trying to be disparaging here, just warn you that your objective is beyond non-trivial. To assess whether the task is even do-able is non trivial.

You are going to need to learn a lot about low-level elements of Linux that most end users and even sysadmins never even think about. You are probably going to need to learn a bunch about embedded systems, cross development, and possibly some electronics and lower level digital systems. As a bit of a benchmark, find a forum dedicated to embedded systems, and see the kinds of questions that people are asking, and the answers that they get. Even for products which are designed and documented for skilled developers to port OS's and software to, there are still numerous problems that take a lot of knowledge and experience to solve.

Having said all of this, it is still a Good Thing(tm) to learn a new skill, and building an OS from scratch is a good one. Start by just installing a full-on Linux distro on a PC. Progress by building and installing a scaled down Linux on something less well endowed than a desktop PC, like any number of single-board computers available for few dollars. Learn how Linux boots, and what all of the low-level software elements do, and how to manage them. By then, you will have questions that will lead to your stated goal.

Good luck.

--- rod.

I don't have the money to hire a linux professional.

Besides a whole lot more linux pioneers have ported linux onto non-PC systems.

What I am asking for is not exactly rocket science. It is actually a very simple device as described above. Just to see how things work. And it has been done before not only on digital picture frames but other devices as well.

Besides, as chrism01 puts it succinctly, someone who is more experienced working with other os is gonna have trouble with linux as they are too used to things done in their way.

A total noob like me stands a better chance of mastering the curve. And if a total noob like me can do it, why not others?

I am pretty sure total noobs have mastered linux before. How many of you know linux even before u started?


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