Imagine this:
If everyone at CompSci.ca came together to make our own freeware OS based on Linux, for example, how would you help out?
Computer Science Canada CompSci OS |
| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | CompSci OS |
Imagine this: If everyone at CompSci.ca came together to make our own freeware OS based on Linux, for example, how would you help out? |
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| Author: | Dan [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ 16th March 2010, 11:14 am wrote: how would you help out?
By trying to convince you it's a bad idea unless you just mean a new linux distribution. In any case CompSci.ca would offer hosting for the project (svn, website, file storage, etc) and anything else we have to offer if any one was serious about doing it (this also goes for other Computer Science related projects assuming it is not a big burden to do so). |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
It does not have to be based on linux, that was only an example (after looking at Google Chrome OS). |
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| Author: | chrisbrown [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I think the point is that unless you think you have the time and ability to improve upon what the world's best have been trying to perfect for 30+ years, any product would at best become another addition at the bottom of the Linux distro coillection. |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Fine, feel free to vote that "This is impossible!". |
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| Author: | Euphoracle [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I wouldn't because that wouldn't help the distros that are actually making headway into the market  |
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| Author: | rdrake [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Better idea. Use the UCK to install extra programming-related packages and maybe customize the look and feel a bit of Ubuntu. Then distribute to interested persons in ISO format on bittorrent. |
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| Author: | Dan [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ 16th March 2010, 12:42 pm wrote: It does not have to be based on linux, that was only an example (after looking at Google Chrome OS).
Well Chrome OS is realy more of a linux distro with a custom window manger and applications (from what i understand). Making a linux distrobution is not unthinkable (or hard if you just branch off a current one), however it's just not that usefull unless you add somthing new. ProgrammingFun wrote: Fine, feel free to vote that "This is impossible!". It's not impossible by any means, it's just either not that usefull (if you make a linux distro with only minor changes from a current one) or would take a tone of time if you want to make a new and usable OS that is any where near what we have now. If you realy want to do this project you should decied what it is exctatly you want to make, and how it will be diffrent from every other distrbution and/or OS. |
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| Author: | DtY [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Chrome OS has everything but chrome hidden though, as I understand. It probably doesn't even have a window manager (it would be useless if it did). You could have the same functionality by changing your Xinitrc to start chrome (in fullscreen) instead of a WM (though I'm sure it boots faster than most distros). I meant to go through roll your own Linux last summer, but never got around to it 
If there was to be a compsci.ca OS I probably wouldn't help (except for answering any questions I could on the forums, as I do now), unless there was something interesting about it. It might not even be unthinkable to write a new OS from scratch (not something I could do, by any means), nearly everything is there to be ported already, that's how Linux got off the ground so far, the Gnu tools already had a lot of what was needed. If you use X11, it would probably be trivial to port nearly any program that runs on Linux. [edit] Writing this post just made me remember the Cleese project, seems it hasn't gone anywhere since heard about it, probably three years ago now, shame. |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Hmm, the concept of an OS written in Python intrigues me. How did it ever turn out? Was it working? |
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| Author: | DtY [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
SNIPERDUDE @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:33 pm wrote: Hmm, the concept of an OS written in Python intrigues me. How did it ever turn out? Was it working? I think they got something that mostly worked, of course it wasn't completely python, I'm pretty sure it had a Linux kernel and ran X11, but I think most of the rest was python, like the window manager and such. |
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| Author: | Amailer [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I'd like the idea of a "compsci.ca project", but not so much that project being an OS- not even a Linux Distro (enough of them out there!). I am all for a compsci.ca project though (even if I cannot contribute to it, it would still be great  ) |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Now that I think about it, an iPhone(or even iPad) dev project is more doable than this even if most aren't very fluent in Obj-C. Well, it's only an alternative  |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
How about we start listing some compsci project ideas here? I'm interested in seeing what's possible, something other than a contest that would unite the many members of these forums to obtain a single goal - one of usefulness too. Program ideas anyone? |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
There was that openT thing but I don't know how's been going... |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I think the problem is most people here aren't knowledgeable enough to carry on what's been started. As much as I'd love to see openT finished, but a project that can cover multiple areas such as programming, graphics, features, etc. would allow more to join in the project. |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I personally like the idea of an iPhone app, but there are too many problems to deal with to get it finished. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
We can always go for a game if an iPhone app seems too challenging. It incorporates graphics, a GUI, some sort of game engine, etc. Also, by the looks of the number of threads, Turing or Java are the most popular. (preferably Java is used since Turing has it's problems >.>) |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I'm not as fluent in Java as C++, but it's a fairly simple transition to learn. In the end graphics would be my strong suit. Now let's not jump the gun right away here; if it's a game we choose, let us at least figure out what. Arcades are classics and a common choice, but A) it has been done a million times before, and B) can be done easily by a single person alone. |
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| Author: | DemonWasp [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:12 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Java is easy, yes (and I'm a fan), but it has the disadvantage that lots of people seem to hate it, and as languages go it's not particularly exciting. Competent, fast, powerful and it has more than enough libraries to do whatever you want, but the language itself is pedestrian enough that it may discourage people from contributing. Python may be a better choice in that regard, though Java still has its advantages. A consideration for any such project is licensing ("who owns what"). This may sound like a trivial bother next to actually programming / graphics-ing / doing cool work, but it's actually pretty important. I'd be more willing to contribute to OpenT if someone could point me to a tutorial on getting it set up (preferably in Eclipse). Checking out the source was...unhelpful (100+ build errors). If such a group was to form, it would probably be good to "get (y)our feet wet" with a relatively small project, so that a cohesive group familiar with each other can be formed. |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Although I don't like Java that much, I use it at school and I'm most familiar with it. I am willing to help with a Java game. |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Games have been done before and will be done again. What if we made some sort of everyday type of program such as a word processor (remember OpenOffice?), web-browser etc... |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
It would probably be best if we kept out of the browser wars - they are moving at a faster pace than we could catch. The idea of an office suite could work. |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Although this was already discussed, we could design an iPhone and Android app for lets say, CompSci which can alert the user of any new posts or subscribed posts... |
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| Author: | Dan [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ 19th March 2010, 6:56 pm wrote: Although this was already discussed, we could design an iPhone and Android app for lets say, CompSci which can alert the user of any new posts or subscribed posts...
I would be very reluctant to help in any way with an iPhone app considering the many issues with the app store, apple's insane ToS, requiring itunes, review process and requiring $99 to even test the application on a real iPhone. Also you will be limiting who can help develop it to users that have OS X as the iPhone SDK is Mac only. Of course i would not stop any one from making such an app. If you do want to make something for a phone i would suggest picking an open platform like android. Android's SDK supports development on most platforms and there are no crazy restrictions. Symbian and windows mobile are also both options and support a large number of languages including python and ruby. P.S. I know you can hack iPhones and install anything you want and that there are cross compilers for Objective C, that's not relay the issue. |
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| Author: | chrisbrown [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Blackberry development is fairly straightforward if you have some Java experience. Developer keys cost $20 to unlock sensitive features but there are no restrictions on what you can/can't do. Unfortunately, there is no central app store either, so marketing becomes an issue. If people are interested in the mobile route, I have an idea for GPS-enabled phones that could be extremely useful for almost anyone. |
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| Author: | rdrake [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
methodoxx @ Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:11 pm wrote: Unfortunately, there is no central app store either, so marketing becomes an issue. False. You can also choose from the plethora of other app stores out there for BlackBerry.
You also have the option of distributing it however you want, there is no evil gatekeeper. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I fully support the mobile route though we do need several devices to test the app on. As for a full office suite, that's a pretty steep step IMO |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Maybe not a full office suite, we could start with one application such as a basic word processor. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
yeah...that could work but it probably wouldn't work well in Java Well maybe using swing but it just doesn't look nice (lol?) |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
Sur_real @ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:07 am wrote: yeah...that could work but it probably wouldn't work well in Java
Well maybe using swing but it just doesn't look nice (lol?) Wasn't OpenOffice coded in Java? Otherwise, I guess C++ could be an option... |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:19 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
O really?  Didn't know that; well I guess too much RTP is bad for the soul
I'm not really familiar with C++ but it differ too much from Java |
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| Author: | rdrake [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Some parts were coded in Java, but the vast majority is not. |
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| Author: | DemonWasp [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
OpenOffice is almost entirely C++; Java was used for plugins only, as I recall. An easy mistake to make when the installer insists on including the JRE. You can make UIs that look great in Java...using SWT. Swing and AWT are asking for trouble. For example, Eclipse is written with SWT, and it is one of the best examples of UI design and implementation I can think of. The examples for SWT include a basic word processor in a few hundred lines. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
hmmm, that would be nice, I was only taught using RTP (and no I do not use hsa console) So Java is still possible? (I'm not into the whole GUI stuff so I would be pretty gullible in this sense) |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
What about a CompSci PortableApp? Just giving random ideas...  |
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| Author: | apomb [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
would that be like a link to the website? |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:16 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
apomb @ Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:08 pm wrote: would that be like a link to the website?
Hmmm....I'm not really sure...why don't you click on it?  |
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| Author: | USEC_OFFICER [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
What would the Compsci Portable Apps do exactly? (Link tells me nothing I don't already know.) |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:56 pm wrote: ... which can alert the user of any new posts or subscribed posts...
There's your answer... |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
There really is no need - just make a Mozilla Prism executable/shortcut for web pages. I have one made for XKCD. https://mozillalabs.com/prism/ |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
What if we made a really basic email client? One that would simply send and receive HTML or plain text emails. |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Because sometimes originality is over-rated. |
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| Author: | Insectoid [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
What if we made the world's biggest...something...that has to do with CS? Oh wait...that involves physical labor rather than just programming. And in the world of CS, bigger ≠ better. Definitely moving in the wrong direction making something big. |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
What if we made a calculator? We can add many functions to it and maybe make it symbolic. I've never really heard of a free symbolic calculator. |
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| Author: | DtY [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
andrew. @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:08 pm wrote: What if we made a calculator? We can add many functions to it and maybe make it symbolic. I've never really heard of a free symbolic calculator. I'm not too sure what a symbolic calculator is, but I think Qalculate is
You can enter something like 2x=10 and it will tell you x=5 It doesn't run on Windows, though. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I think Andrew means adding a lot of function to it so it stands out I think a calculator is very good idea as a first project since it's small enough and yet it could be built upon later |
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| Author: | ProgrammingFun [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
DtY @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:22 pm wrote: andrew. @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:08 pm wrote: What if we made a calculator? We can add many functions to it and maybe make it symbolic. I've never really heard of a free symbolic calculator. I'm not too sure what a symbolic calculator is, but I think Qalculate is
You can enter something like 2x=10 and it will tell you x=5 It doesn't run on Windows, though. In that case, we can make one that works on all platforms or only on Windows or something.... Qalculate is only for Linux. We can also tire ourselves by making a linux emulator for windows  |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:29 pm wrote: We can also tire ourselves by making a linux emulator for windows That one's funny  |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
If we do make something, it would be nice for it to be cross platform because I really hate programming on Windows. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
We should starting a vote on the most popular ideas or else we're not going to make any progress... Here were some of them: --Game --Blackberry app --Simple word processor --Calculator |
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| Author: | DtY [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
You should probably make sure everyone who wants to contribute knows how to use (the same) source control software. The project will go downhill if someone edits every file all over then does a single commit, when the whole repository has had a bunch of changes, no one is going to want to merge them. [edit] I suggest git, since it's decentralized, but you probably shouldn't consider my opinion since I doubt that I'll be able to help out. |
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| Author: | SNIPERDUDE [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
I can do graphics despite the project idea/language used. |
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| Author: | syntax_error [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: CompSci OS |
ProgrammingFun @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:29 pm wrote: DtY @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:22 pm wrote: andrew. @ Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:08 pm wrote: What if we made a calculator? We can add many functions to it and maybe make it symbolic. I've never really heard of a free symbolic calculator. I'm not too sure what a symbolic calculator is, but I think Qalculate is
You can enter something like 2x=10 and it will tell you x=5 It doesn't run on Windows, though. In that case, we can make one that works on all platforms or only on Windows or something.... Qalculate is only for Linux. We can also tire ourselves by making a linux emulator for windows you mean a desktop version of wolfram alpha ? |
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| Author: | andrew. [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:CompSci OS |
Yeah, like Mathematica or Maple. |
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| Author: | Dan [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
DtY @ 21st March 2010, 7:06 pm wrote: You should probably make sure everyone who wants to contribute knows how to use (the same) source control software. The project will go downhill if someone edits every file all over then does a single commit, when the whole repository has had a bunch of changes, no one is going to want to merge them.
Compsci.ca is set up to host SVN repos if any one wants one for such a project. I cloud probably install other software as well if you guys agree on a project. |
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| Author: | Sur_real [ Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:CompSci OS |
methodoxx @ Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:11 pm wrote: Blackberry development is fairly straightforward if you have some Java experience. Developer keys cost $20 to unlock sensitive features but there are no restrictions on what you can/can't do. Unfortunately, there is no central app store either, so marketing becomes an issue.
If people are interested in the mobile route, I have an idea for GPS-enabled phones that could be extremely useful for almost anyone. Can you share with us your idea? Or, if you're not comfortable, send me a PM (I might give it a try at a BB app) |
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