Re: [Embedlets-dev] Re:[Ant] Build vs Deployment vs Management processes

[Nicola K. B. <nic...@ap...>]

Ted Kosan wrote, On 07/02/2003 9.21:
> Topic tags:[AR][GW][DO][HW][PM]
> _______________________________________________
> 
> Nicola,
> 
> 
>>All this discussion on Ant... why don't you all just 
>>try it and ditch it with the speed of light if there 
>>is a better alternative or it doesn't work?
> 
> 
> This hits on a question I have been thinking about with regards to open source
> development.  Since Andrzej will probably be the first committer for the
> Embedlet Container, and I will probably be the first committer for the Wiring
> Tool, is it acceptable for us to kind of force an issue like this by submitting
> these initial code bases with Ant build scripts and a directory structure
> optimized for use with Ant?  Somehow this does not 'feel' quite right and yet
> perhaps allowing the initial 'doers' to make decisions like this is open
> source's practical solution to a tough problem?



[snipped cool explanation of cross-skill interaction]

Wow, very well said.
Flag this, it will make a good project-goals page :-)

BTW, I'm also an almost-mechanical-engineer (stopped my studies nar the 
end because of health problems, but now I'm restarting while I work).
I liked playing with simple circuits when I was a kid (the eversturdy 
NE555), and I work in an automation firm, so I know the basics and the 
latest PLC advances, but have never really actively done anything with 
my hands. Probably this could help me somewhat.

>>I am *very* ignorant about embedded devices, but 
>>this is inversely propositional to my interest 
>>in it and in my knowledge of Ant ;-)
> 
> 
> And of course I am just getting started with Ant but know much about embedded
> systems. ;-)

;-)

>  I have a couple of ideas here:
> 
> 1)  What does everyone think about us setting up a CS-oriented
> developer/Embedded Systems developer list within this project where people from
> both areas can ask hand-holding level questions to each other?  I know that
> there are a lot of CS-oriented questions I would like to know the answers to
> but the main developer list does not seem to be the best forum for doing this. 
> If we are going to try to integrate these two areas, a 'no question is too
> stupid' list like this might prove to be helpful.

Usually creating separate mailing lists is not something I encourage at 
Apache, since it usually divides discussions more than one would want.

Why not simply prepending each of these with [newbie] or [ant] ?
Those not interested can filter.

> 2)  Are you interested in learning how to start playing with a Java based
> embedded system like TINI?  If so I will send you a free TINI and help you to
> get up and running with it.  This should help for gaining a feel for what the
> embedded systems side of 'the great divide' is like. ;-)

:-D

Yeah! +1


>>I want to help in this great project and don't really get 
>>it just yet ;-)
> 
> 
> Well, you already have started to help!  I downloaded Forrest this week and
> started playing with it (I even forced myself to download the source version
> and build it from scratch in order to learn how to do this better).  I must say
> that Forrest is an amazing piece of work and I am in the process of setting it
> up for an experimental version of the Embedlets.org main web site.

Cool!

> I am firmly convinced that at least 50% of the benefits derived from this
> Embedlets project is an open source community where the CS-oriented world and
> the Embedded Systems world can be brought together and synthesized.  If this is
> true then it is going to be very important for use to develop, publish and
> maintain a significant number of documents which explain exactly what we are
> doing and how each area relates to the other.  After studying this problem for
> the past couple of months I have not found a system that even comes close to
> Forrest for solving it (thanks for the tip!).

Call it by its name, "shameless plug" ;-)

> Let me know about the TINI,

yeeessss!!! :-)

-- 
Nicola Ken Barozzi                   nic...@ap...
             - verba volant, scripta manent -
    (discussions get forgotten, just code remains)
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