Hi,

Reading and participation with; Fresh round of updates in changelog!
Not wanting to high-jack that thread so I created a new one.

This got me to thinking. I've got a young Grandson visiting from Florida for the next few weeks. We were having a discussion last evening about computers and engineering. His youthful visions about what to do for a career have gaping holes in them. Expectations are somewhat like what others have for Slackware release(s). Instant knowledge or gratifications. He wants to start out where I left off by starting a business with friends in the computer field. His experiences are youthful without in-depth knowledge or understanding, i.e. dreams. He flat out ask me what I made in my career and I responded, "Look around an see our home and what we can do with our income". We gained a lot for my knowledge & experience with systems.

When I speak of systems, it included interfacing & programming for the use of the interfaces for the task(s) involved. I storied what I did to implement the design & integrate the design to the control. Not something one teaches but does learn the basics to enable one to integrate a design that required both development of the device and integration into usage of the same via good software practices. These systems were integrated into our University Instrumentation Labs to provide the means for students to learn via experience within a LAB. Some designs were even moved to Industrial usage for our LAB supporters.

This did include real-time instrumentation Data acquisition for varied Lab experimental setups with Fluid Dynamics, Mechanical systems or wherever we would need to gather information for experiments/research.

We did develop our own Student Data stations that were setup to allow the interactions with real-time experiments that the students would use libraries to allow their integration into the experiment to gather data that would be used to analyze for their objective. Some simple circuit design was necessary to allow the student the means to get involved with the design. Some were canned designs to provide a path to get the information. Planned experimentation. Of course we as instructors were involved because most students had limited experiences. We did try to build the process so that each would understand via building blocks from previous experiments.

Our direct involvement with Student experiments required guided instructions so the student would have a valued productive session. Not one student would be aggressive with the experiment since their experiences(s) were limited to the their learned experiences within the LAB. These learned experiences were the blocks that would be used to develop future LAB experiments. We were fortunate to have UNIX machines (AT&T 3b1 & 3b2) but we would use Slackware whenever a IBM-PC/Compatible was to be used. This did expose students to different platforms. Since design information was readily available for the IBM/Compatible PC it was easier to design for this platform using a UNIX-Like OS.

Much in the same as with Slackware Gnu/Linux. You develop experience(s) as you progress with usage. We as fellow LQ Slackware forum members try to mentor or guide users when they stumble or need some assistance. PV as the Slackware maintainer along with the Slackware team & this forum community continue to provide the means for future Slackware users to learn via the under lying building blocks that can be found at
Slackware is a stable distribution that one can depend on when developing hardware or software designs. Patience is required when you are designing, be it hardware or software. So as a Slackware Gnu/Linux user I am patiently awaiting the new Slackware release.

Learn by experimentation with guidance can benefit all! Add in a little patience and you have tools to enable you to do the desired project.
Slackware Gnu/Linux is a great platform to work with that will allow flexibility and a required stability to provide the means to ones design or implementations. I still think one will need to be patient, be it for completion of your project or just waiting for a new Slackware release. Patience and the rewards will follow!

Please remember to have fun & enjoy!