tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post5618691594147712418..comments2024-02-14T02:30:36.732-05:00Comments on The Blog of Helios: Linux Learning - Taking a Step ForwardAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-6123981883706737732010-08-13T13:13:51.960-05:002010-08-13T13:13:51.960-05:00I did some more digging, and apparently Quickly is...I did some more digging, and apparently Quickly is supposed to work well with something called Acire:<br /><br />http://www.ubuntugeek.com/acire-browse-python-code-snippets-quickly-and-easily.html<br /><br />Acire is a big Python learning tool that contains Python code snippets that can be run and tested. The idea is to make it easier to get coding with Python, while of course Quickly provides the desktop application framework, so that the two of them together can "quickly" be used to create a fully functioning program.<br /><br />These could be two primary tools in this effort.Gavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-54046645248581101862010-08-13T13:02:22.193-05:002010-08-13T13:02:22.193-05:00I've been in similar situations - you see some...I've been in similar situations - you see someone has a need for a basic desktop computer, you put one together for them out of spare parts or old systems you don't use anymore, put Linux on it and give them a decent Internet-capable desktop, and give it to them as a gift. Then weeks or months later you find out they reformatted the drive and put Windows on it. The first thing that comes into my mind is: If you had the money to buy a copy of Windows, then why the hell did you tell me you couldn't afford a computer. If you didn't buy a copy of Windows then you are running their software illegally and you should be prepared to face whatever consequences that involves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-43411518238375704052010-08-03T12:01:10.211-05:002010-08-03T12:01:10.211-05:00Anonymous #2 - "So, let me reiterate: it'...<b>Anonymous #2</b> - "<i>So, let me reiterate: it's not the user's fault! Desktop Linux is broken at its base!</i>"<br /><br />How dare you proclaim that the Linux God is lacking in any way! It is beyond perfect in every way, and the evil Micro$oft does everything wrong! Linux is a holy light in this world of starving children in Africa, and all the developers are giving away their time for free! Show your respect! You must be one of those who does not give back to the community!<br /><br />Anyway, that is my impression of a Linux zealot, albeit with much better spelling and grammar and punctuation. Now that we have that out of the way...<br /><br /><br />"<i>But that's the problem with many Linux users: they find it quite comfortable in their niche.</i>"<br /><br />In terms of this topic, I think a major problem is that Linux users today checked out of the Windows world back in WinXP. Hardly anyone has much experience with Vista's GUI, and 7's GUI is good but not widely used in the workplace yet. So WinXP's 10-year-old GUI is still the standard by which most people compare.<br /><br />To be fair, I think modern Linux GUI's compare very favorably to WinXP's, even with add-on themes, to the point of crushing it. But Vista and 7 kicked it up a notch, and there are many features of 7's GUI that I would like to see in the Linux world. As soon as more KDE and Gnome developers see what 7 has, I think the user interface wars will heat up again. (Not that they ever stopped, but less Gnome vs KDE and more Gnome/KDE vs Win7.) This in turn will spur more distribution communities to focus on integration of programs with the GUI, new toolsets, etc - much like Ubuntu has been doing.<br /><br />It is all a work-in-progress in many ways, but I think the bright light at the end of the tunnel is the vast community of Windows curmudgeons (especially in IT) who are sticking to WinXP until MS takes it away from them <b>AND</b> are constantly making the GUI look like Win2k's. 7's GUI provides no such handholding and in fact requires significant graphics resources to run its 3D-native interface, even on "low" settings. I believe that Linux distributions will have matured to the point of general usability (in terms of the program/UI integration) by the time these Windows curmudgeons are finally forced to flee the burning building of WinXP. The flexibility in Linux to run a fancy GUI or a basic GUI or no GUI at all on a single distribution will win more converts in the end. 4 years to go!Gavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-31956522148608679582010-08-03T12:00:39.367-05:002010-08-03T12:00:39.367-05:00Anonymous #2 - "So, let me reiterate: it'...<b>Anonymous #2</b> - "<i>So, let me reiterate: it's not the user's fault! Desktop Linux is broken at its base!</i>"<br /><br />How dare you proclaim that the Linux God is lacking in any way! It is beyond perfect in every way, and the evil Micro$oft does everything wrong! Linux is a holy light in this world of starving children in Africa, and all the developers are giving away their time for free! Show your respect! You must be one of those who does not give back to the community!<br /><br />Anyway, that is my impression of a Linux zealot, albeit with much better spelling and grammar and punctuation. Now that we have that out of the way...<br /><br /><br />"<i>But that's the problem with many Linux users: they find it quite comfortable in their niche.</i>"<br /><br />In terms of this topic, I think a major problem is that Linux users today checked out of the Windows world back in WinXP. Hardly anyone has much experience with Vista's GUI, and 7's GUI is good but not widely used in the workplace yet. So WinXP's 10-year-old GUI is still the standard by which most people compare.<br /><br />To be fair, I think modern Linux GUI's compare very favorably to WinXP's, even with add-on themes, to the point of crushing it. But Vista and 7 kicked it up a notch, and there are many features of 7's GUI that I would like to see in the Linux world. As soon as more KDE and Gnome developers see what 7 has, I think the user interface wars will heat up again. (Not that they ever stopped, but less Gnome vs KDE and more Gnome/KDE vs Win7.) This in turn will spur more distribution communities to focus on integration of programs with the GUI, new toolsets, etc - much like Ubuntu has been doing.<br /><br />It is all a work-in-progress in many ways, but I think the bright light at the end of the tunnel is the vast community of Windows curmudgeons (especially in IT) who are sticking to WinXP until MS takes it away from them <b>AND</b> are constantly making the GUI look like Win2k's. 7's GUI provides no such handholding and in fact requires significant graphics resources to run its 3D-native interface, even on "low" settings. I believe that Linux distributions will have matured to the point of general usability (in terms of the program/UI integration) by the time these Windows curmudgeons are finally forced to flee the burning building of WinXP. The flexibility in Linux to run a fancy GUI or a basic GUI or no GUI at all on a single distribution will win more converts in the end. 4 years to go!Gavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-65220682363534896142010-08-03T05:10:13.528-05:002010-08-03T05:10:13.528-05:00Here's an idea: don't try to fix the user,...Here's an idea: don't try to fix the user, try to fix the Linux desktop.<br /><br />You know, the operating paradigm of the common GNOME desktop isn't terribly different from Windows. So maybe, just maybe, something else factors into people not accepting Linux instead of the often-cited unfamiliarity.<br /><br />I studied at a German technical university. All computer pools there were equipped with Linux machines, running OpenSUSE with KDE3. But almost all students had Windows computers. Miraculously the great majority of them was able to use OpenSUSE from the start without any problems. It's simply not an issue of unfamiliarity. Or missing training.<br /><br />It's an issue of egos, missing resources, and, most importantly, the mentality of "good enough".<br /><br />Most Open Source developers constantly aim for "good enough". They aim for "works for me". Precious few aim for excellent, elegant, well-documented, easy-to-use programs.<br /><br />So, let me reiterate: it's not the user's fault! Desktop Linux is broken at its base!<br /><br />And there is no one in sight that takes up the staff and builds something around the Linux kernel that truly can challenge Windows. With Linux distributions it's just always more of the same, more of the same. But that's the problem with many Linux users: they find it quite comfortable in their niche.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-47570803736063239452010-07-31T21:47:49.366-05:002010-07-31T21:47:49.366-05:00It doesn't teach Linux specifically, but Laby ...It doesn't teach Linux specifically, but Laby is a great little game that teaches general programming skills in Python, Java, C or (I think) OCaml. I've been including it in most of the computers I give out these days.<br /><br />Here's the game:<br />http://www.pps.jussieu.fr/~gimenez/laby/<br /><br />I spent 10 minutes telling my 5 year old that the python commands told the ant what to do, then left him alone and he wrote a program to get the ant to the door!Michael Hallhttp://www.qimo4kids.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-89641387094876194442010-07-30T23:40:38.525-05:002010-07-30T23:40:38.525-05:00The Colonel and Mrs. Panik just had a brief chat
a...The Colonel and Mrs. Panik just had a brief chat<br />about this. Do you think that the reason people,<br />especially the kids leave Linux is because their<br />friends are playing some non-Linux compatible game? Maybe iTunes?<br /><br />But, I think the idea here is a visual, fun tutorial?<br />Heck, I will use it when it is ready.<br /><br />Maybe an IRC channel? Fast way to work on those little problems.<br /><br />Y'all are on target, as always.Colonel Paniknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-16770764441184678902010-07-30T18:48:14.674-05:002010-07-30T18:48:14.674-05:00I am trying to learn to use Ubuntu because I am so...I am trying to learn to use Ubuntu because I am so sick of working with microsoft. I just installed yesterday and used GIMP as the <a href="http://uppervalleyweb.com" rel="nofollow">graphic design</a> tool to build my new logo for Upper Valley Web.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731709546461914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-13769262206100932972010-07-30T15:27:13.494-05:002010-07-30T15:27:13.494-05:00Christopher,
Email me helios at fixedbylinux dot...Christopher, <br /><br />Email me helios at fixedbylinux dott kommm and we will see what we can get going.<br /><br />hAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-45754760383379286452010-07-30T10:07:11.603-05:002010-07-30T10:07:11.603-05:00I don't have much, but I have a bachelors in C...I don't have much, but I have a bachelors in CS, and a fair bit of free time. I run Mint, and if you would like to send me some thoughts on what you are trying to accomplish in greater detail I'd be willing to offer my services, as well as the services of my local development group to the effort.<br /><br />ignatzami yahoo com<br /><br />I look forward to hearing from you.Christopher Myerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14377148309515488711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-23818256602238308782010-07-29T21:51:38.766-05:002010-07-29T21:51:38.766-05:00Stranger things have happened, Ken. Some guy name...Stranger things have happened, Ken. Some guy named Linus put his idea and rudimentary beginnings forth inviting others to join in.<br /><br />I won't be too surprised if Dr. Scogin is familiar with B. F. Skinner and his ideas on teaching machines.<br /><br />I don't know, but I think it worth considering asking for a commitment from the kids and families to use the systems with Linux for 60 or 90 days before deciding to install something else. Even if I were in you shoes, I would not just jump on this, but rather thing about and feel the situation out. It wouldn't be a binding contract, I know, because that would defeat what you are doing for the kids. But having an agreement is generally of some value.<br /><br />As I attempted to say to the Lxer commandos, we are dealing with hearts and minds, not just the technical facts. It doesn't help when Windows is so ubiquitous; in schools, libraries, even motel lobbies.<br /><br />If you have a moment sometime, take a look at Pen Guy (I assume that is a pun on Pen Gwen) Linux. It is interesting; even though I messed up the desktop within 10 minutes.<br /><br />Best to you.kenholmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17201632469567544996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-44420970178925660412010-07-29T19:56:10.075-05:002010-07-29T19:56:10.075-05:00I have now read the article more thoroughly. The ...I have now read the article more thoroughly. The article is in the July 2010 issue of Linux Journal. Unfortunately, I cannot find an online copy of the article, but there is more info here:<br /><br />https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Quickly<br /><br />Quickly was not designed to unencumber application development from coding, but it is designed to get most of the extraneous details out of the way. Right now, it looks like it can create an Ubuntu ready application in less than 20 minutes - just add code! Very nice.<br /><br />Not being a dev myself, it is difficult to take Quickly for a test drive, but it looks impressive and may ultimately fit into your plan. You can easily test some Python code with it and see what it can do. Basically, it creates applications, so whatever you want it to do.Gavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-77551232644001550222010-07-29T12:48:32.569-05:002010-07-29T12:48:32.569-05:00I skimmed an article recently about something call...I skimmed an article recently about something called "Quickly":<br /><br />https://launchpad.net/quickly<br /><br />I will read that article more carefully tonight. It is supposed to be an accelerated application builder, and it appears to have Ubuntu packages.<br /><br />A short search turned up nothing for me as far as existing projects or applications of this sort. And good luck on YouTube, et al! Linux videos online tend not to be comprehensive, to put it lightly.<br /><br />If I had a say in this, I would say that audio, video, and interaction should all be present in such a learning tool, much like games made for Windows or consoles. If you have ever played StarCraft's tutorial, for instance, you would know what I mean. Combine that with the video-based menu system of a DVD movie. Something that encompasses the whole range of human interaction with computers.Gavinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-59620797706181545062010-07-29T12:10:03.875-05:002010-07-29T12:10:03.875-05:00Ken, I suggest you take what information you have ...Ken, I suggest you take what information you have currently and create a google group for this project. It may not meet your needs further down the road but for now it might be a good place to start getting this down so any community formed can meet and discuss it.<br /><br />Just a thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com