Linux, Source code, programming in python.

[droope]

Hi everyone, i'm new to the community.

I tiped linux forums in google and here i am hope you can help.

Let's see, i'll start. I have to do a project this year that includes programming for the school i am going to.
In my country (Uruguay), the OLPC proyect is delivering a Laptop to every child that is going to school for free. Everything is perfect, except for the operating sistem, that is called sweet.

This OS (I'll show a video later) is kind of untidy and toy-like, and i find it incredibly unpractical. So i had an idea with a couple of friends of triyng to change the operanting sytem to a better one, a more windows-simmilar OS, if you like.

So, my problem is that when i download the source code from

git://dev.laptop.org/sugar

it downloads a lot of files that i don't quite get and it only weighs 6mb. ¿Is that possible?

I would also like to request, if it were possible, that someone would tell me what are the primary files that control a linux OS and how do they work, as newbiely as possible

And as a 3rd request, i would like a SIMPLE manual of python that would explain me the basis of the language, without getting too deep.

And, at last, i need a linux OS that is based on python and that can work perfectly in a PC that has 500mb HARD disk, 128 RAM, and a 500 mhz processor. And of course, that is Open Source.


What i plan to do is to pass the aplications of the SUGAR OS to the OS you reccomend and try to professionalize the OLPC laptops a little.


Sorry for the bad english.
Pedro


Edit:
YouTube - Slightly better demo of the OLPC User Interface
Here is the video of the Sugar operating system.

[i92guboj]

Hi everyone, i'm new to the community.

I tiped linux forums in google and here i am hope you can help.

Let's see, i'll start. I have to do a project this year that includes programming for the school i am going to.
In my country (Uruguay), the OLPC proyect is delivering a Laptop to every child that is going to school for free. Everything is perfect, except for the operating sistem, that is called sweet.

This OS (I'll show a video later) is kind of untidy and toy-like, and i find it incredibly unpractical. So i had an idea with a couple of friends of triyng to change the operanting sytem to a better one, a more windows-simmilar OS, if you like.

I think you meant "sugar". And it's not really an OS, but a retarded front end for many things. It can be installed on many OSes, linux amongst them.

So, my problem is that when i download the source code from

git://dev.laptop.org/sugar

it downloads a lot of files that i don't quite get and it only weighs 6mb. ¿Is that possible?

Yes. As I say, it's only the funky stuff. The OS is a separate piece. I don't know much about sugar anyway.

I would also like to request, if it were possible, that someone would tell me what are the primary files that control a linux OS and how do they work, as newbiely as possible

It's not as simple. You either install a binary distro like Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu or SuSE, or, if you really want to learn the depths of linux, you build your own from scratch using Gentoo or Linux From Scratch. There's no way that anyone can teach you about linux the simple way in just one post. Even compiling a kernel, which is the minimum requirement to start making a custom distro, could take a big book.

And as a 3rd request, i would like a SIMPLE manual of python that would explain me the basis of the language, without getting too deep.

There are tons of tutorials, just google for them. I don't have any bookmarked, sorry.

And, at last, i need a linux OS that is based on python and that can work perfectly in a PC that has 500mb HARD disk, 128 RAM, and a 500 mhz processor. And of course, that is Open Source.

I don't know what "based on python" mean. You can get python on any Linux distro, and linux itself is mostly C stuff, with lots of shell scripts and perl code, and many other languages. There's no "python-only" linux. Gentoo, however, is tightly tied to it, since it's package manager is programmed mostly using python and bash.

What i plan to do is to pass the aplications of the SUGAR OS to the OS you reccomend and try to professionalize the OLPC laptops a little.

If you need a small distro, look into puppy linux or damn small linux. They are small distros that might suit you. Then go here to know how to install sugar on them:

Category:Installing Sugar - OLPC

I think that neither of those distros is listed here, but maybe you can find some guidance looking in Debian or something.

[droope]

Thank you for your answer

I think you meant "sugar". And it's not really an OS, but a retarded front end for many things. It can be installed on many OSes, linux amongst them.

So...
I dont get it. Sugar is the only thing you see when you turn the OLPC's on. You are telling me that the computer doesn't have an actual OS, but has something that acts as it.
Right?

What exactly does it do? I mean, what use would i have for it if i install it for example on a fedora?

Yes. As I say, it's only the funky stuff. The OS is a separate piece. I don't know much about sugar anyway.

I guess i have to find out what OS it is actually based on then?

EDIT: It is based on fedora core. I'll bring more doubts here about this later.

It's not as simple. You either install a binary distro like Fedora, Mandriva, Ubuntu or SuSE, or, if you really want to learn the depths of linux, you build your own from scratch using Gentoo or Linux From Scratch. There's no way that anyone can teach you about linux the simple way in just one post. Even compiling a kernel, which is the minimum requirement to start making a custom distro, could take a big book.

No loss trying, i thought .
I'm starting to feel this proyect is out of reach, even if i try hard.
I mean, i don't want to create a OS from scratch, i want to pass the aplications and the networking system from the Sugar OS to another OS... Is that possible for me to learn in 6, perhaps 7 months?

There are tons of tutorials, just google for them. I don't have any bookmarked, sorry.

Thanks.

I don't know what "based on python" mean. You can get python on any Linux distro, and linux itself is mostly C stuff, with lots of shell scripts and perl code, and many other languages. There's no "python-only" linux. Gentoo, however, is tightly tied to it, since it's package manager is programmed mostly using python and bash.

Do you mean that a linux is programmed in different languages? Or that it is based on programs that are programmed in different languages?.
I dont get it, sorry

If you need a small distro, look into puppy linux or damn small linux. They are small distros that might suit you. Then go here to know how to install sugar on them:

Category:Installing Sugar - OLPC

I think that neither of those distros is listed here, but maybe you can find some guidance looking in Debian or something.

Soo, technically it would be as easy as Installing Sugar on that distro and then i would be done?

That's a bummer, really...

asdasdads
Pedro

[coopstah13]

what he meant was that sugar is not the OS but just the Graphical User Interface used on the laptop, the OS is something else, and that you could theoretically install the sugar interface on any distribution of linux

you don't have to create your own OS, compiling a new kernel is just that, it isn't creating a new OS

if you can figure out how to install onto this laptop, I'm not sure if it has a disc drive of some kind or usb support, but you should be fine running any distro that will fit on the machine, but you'll probably need to use Damn Small Linux, Deli Linux, Puppy Linux, etc. They should be able to detect the hardware properly

[droope]

Thank you for your answer.

So, sugar is like kde and Gnome?

It has 3 USB slots, but i don't think they are configured in a way that allows me to erase the current OS. I mean, how could I possibly configure the system to boot from a USB stick if i cant access the BIOS?


Perhaps there is a way of accessing the bios, i'll have to look arround.

Perhaps the system would work faster if it were based on DSL (damn small) isntead of fedora?
it's weird they chose fedora for a base.

If you could give me a hand on how downloading the complete source code of sugar, i would aprecciate it.

BUt
Do i have to download fedora core instead of Sugar? Or both?

Im absolutely lost .( i guess it will all become easier with time.

[i92guboj]

Thank you for your answer


So...
I dont get it. Sugar is the only thing you see when you turn the OLPC's on. You are telling me that the computer doesn't have an actual OS, but has something that acts as it.
Right?

What exactly does it do? I mean, what use would i have for it if i install it for example on a fedora?

You will make fedora look equally childish. Indeed, as I said above, as far as I know, the default install on OLPC's is Fedora (which is a linux OS) with Sugar in top of it, to make it "nicer".

I guess i have to find out what OS it is actually based on then?

Re-read my post. I said that it works on many OSes, and even posted a link where you can see how to install Sugar on many of these OSes.

No loss trying, i thought .
I'm starting to feel this proyect is out of reach, even if i try hard.
I mean, i don't want to create a OS from scratch, i want to pass the aplications and the networking system from the Sugar OS to another OS... Is that possible for me to learn in 6, perhaps 7 months?

The right question is not if it's possible. The right question is this: why the heck do you want to uninstall an OS, to then install another one, and make it look exactly the same than the one you had in first place? Or maybe I am completely missing your point.

Do you mean that a linux is programmed in different languages? Or that it is based on programs that are programmed in different languages?.
I dont get it, sorry

Linux is just a kernel, which is the linux core. Linux itself is mostly written in C, but that is something that you don't care about as a user. Then, the user programs can be written in whatever language their creators choose. Just like in Windows you can create programs in visual C or visual basic to name just two of them.

Soo, technically it would be as easy as Installing Sugar on that distro and then i would be done?

That's a bummer, really...

As I said, yes. Check the link I posted. I have zero experience with sugar (and I have personally zero interest on it as well), but you should be able to get the info you need to install sugar over any distro on that link.

[i92guboj]

Thank you for your answer.

So, sugar is like kde and Gnome?

That's my guess. As I said, I didn't try it.

It has 3 USB slots, but i don't think they are configured in a way that allows me to erase the current OS. I mean, how could I possibly configure the system to boot from a USB stick if i cant access the BIOS?

I don't know if you can erase it's firmware, but according to this:

Sugar Instructions - OLPC

The OLPC software comes in "builds", which are loaded into the laptop's firmware (or booted from a CD image, USB key, or SD card).

You can install and run sugar in any OS or desktop as long as you have a working python installation. All the linux distros can run python without a problem, though some of them might not install it by default.

I can't give you any specific info on how to overwrite the firmware with a differnet version of linux (if that's even possible) but maybe you can find something by looking at the olpc web site that I linked. There's some info around there about the whole thing, and about sugar in particular.

[droope]

You will make fedora look equally childish. Indeed, as I said above, as far as I know, the default install on OLPC's is Fedora (which is a linux OS) with Sugar in top of it, to make it "nicer".

Yes, you are right, this computers have fedora installed.

""""""""""""""nicer""""""""""""""""""

You should have posted it like that

Re-read my post. I said that it works on many OSes, and even posted a link where you can see how to install Sugar on many of these OSes.

Yes, i get it now

The right question is not if it's possible. The right question is this: why the heck do you want to uninstall an OS, to then install another one, and make it look exactly the same than the one you had in first place? Or maybe I am completely missing your point.

What i want to do really is to change the "Sugar" desktop enviroment and repace it with a more professional one.
Could it be done without reinstalling the whole operating system?

The worse part of this Sugar **** is that you don't know where files are, i dont know even if I can execute files. But knowing that it is Fedora-based, i guess that i can do it through commands and stuff. ¿Right?

Linux is just a kernel, which is the linux core. Linux itself is mostly written in C, but that is something that you don't care about as a user. Then, the user programs can be written in whatever language their creators choose. Just like in Windows you can create programs in visual C or visual basic to name just two of them.

I don't know and i am not interested in (perhaps) knowing what a kernel is, so i think that i'll pretend I understood

As I said, yes. Check the link I posted. I have zero experience with sugar (and I have personally zero interest on it as well), but you should be able to get the info you need to install sugar over any distro on that link.

I think you got me wrong, i think that what i need to do is to install a new desktop enviroment, i guess fedora is ok as an OS.

What desktop enviroments do you know of that consume very little resources?
Thanks.

That's my guess. As I said, I didn't try it.



I don't know if you can erase it's firmware, but according to this:

Sugar Instructions - OLPC



You can install and run sugar in any OS or desktop as long as you have a working python installation. All the linux distros can run python without a problem, though some of them might not install it by default.

I can't give you any specific info on how to overwrite the firmware with a differnet version of linux (if that's even possible) but maybe you can find something by looking at the olpc web site that I linked. There's some info around there about the whole thing, and about sugar in particular.

I'll check that out when i have one of these laptop in my hands.

Thanks.

[netstrider]

You can change the sugar environment without re-installing anything totally. All you need to do is download one of the Desktop Environments like Gnome, KDE, XFCE or one of the Window Managers (which use less resources) such as Fluxbox or IceWM.

XFCE is a desktop environment that is similar to Gnome but uses substantially less resources and would work well on your system I believe.

I suggest you search Google on how to do this, it is usually not difficult. All the answers to your questions are out there.. you just need to find them.

Good luck

[droope]

You can change the sugar environment without re-installing anything totally. All you need to do is download one of the Desktop Environments like Gnome, KDE, XFCE or one of the Window Managers (which use less resources) such as Fluxbox or IceWM.

XFCE is a desktop environment that is similar to Gnome but uses substantially less resources and would work well on your system I believe.

I suggest you search Google on how to do this, it is usually not difficult. All the answers to your questions are out there.. you just need to find them.

Good luck

I'll try it XFCE, it look really great... but i don't know if it'll work on such a small PC.

The grafical installer is a .run file, that's great...

But i need to run it within the console, because sugar is extremely hard to understand and I still don't understand how to excecute a file I don't know how to find it yet... LOL.

¿Is it posible to change the desktop enviroment whithin the console?
I'll try to google it out.
Thanks.
Pedro