eric-chat — General chat about eric

[Eric-chat] installing Eric,newperson,misc.questions

[Garrison R. <gar...@ya...>]

Hello,I am thinking,about downloadeding eric,and installing it, I will be installing it on a IBM,
 in its own partition,What size is recomended?....Since it(Eric) is in developement, What 
risks, if any...? Is it compatible with FreeDos?... guess that is about it,and to introduce 
my self,Garry ,hello evryone.
One last question, from what I read on source forge, Eric can run programs intended for windows ?...I don't like MSwindows much,but I do use a few prgrams,that require(unfortunately) Windows,so I am always hopeing and looking for a alternative.
Thats all for now
fromGarry
visit my webb page:http://garryspages.webs.com
Garrison Ricketson

[Eric-chat] Networked X-Wing Battle

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Guys,

I have had a nice idea for a bit o' fun:

Imagine we invite a group of Micro$oft VIPs to enter a networked game of
X-Wing or equivalent. The game contract will be agreed in advance to be
completely fair. If the game is an interesting one, me and Chris can try
and get it televised on satellite...

BTW, I have experience of space combat sims since I first started
playing XIPHOS at 14 years of age. I remember sitting in the classic
'Star Wars' arcade machine when I was 5 years old. At 16 yrs I migrated
to the likes of X-Wing, and earned medals to make my brother-in-law's
eyes turn green with envy.

Seeing as though the space-combat sim is an endangered species of game,
I have recently downloaded kobayashimaru from SourceForge, which is a
space sim. This is quite interesting to look at, but I have no
intentions of wasting too much time on it...

One might say that I am the 'Last Starfighter'.

May the ports be with you..
				Gavin. (|;-)

Know any good stunt flyers? I need all the help I can get out here.

[Eric-chat] Funny

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Heh, 

sorry to spam u, but my sister sent me this un'..really quite funny.

> One day in the future, George Bush has a heart attack and dies. He
> immediately goes to hell, where the devil is waiting for him. "I don't
> know what to do here," says the devil. "You are on my list, but I have no
> room for you. You definitely have to stay here, so I'll tell you what I'm
> going to  do. I've got a couple folks here who weren't quite as bad as
> you. I'll let one of them go, but you have to take their place. I'll even
> let YOU decide who leaves."
>
> Bush thought that sounded pretty good, so the devil opened the first room.
> In it was Richard Nixon and a large pool of water. He kept diving in and
> surfacing empty handed. Over and over and over. Such was his fate in hell.
>
> "No," George said. "I don't think so. I'm not a good swimmer and I don't
> think I could do that all day long."
>
> The devil led him to the next room. In it was Newt Gingrich with a sledge
> hammer and a room full of rocks. All he did was swing that hammer, time
> after time after  time.
>
> "No, I've got this problem with my shoulder. I would be in constant agony
> if all I could do was break rocks all day," commented George.
>
> The devil opened a third door. In it, Bush saw Bill Clinton, lying on the
> floor spread-eagled with his arms and legs bound.  Bent over him was
> Monica Lewinsky, doing what she does best.
>
> Bush shook his head in disbelief but finally said, "Yeah, I can handle
> this."
>
> The devil smiled and said "OK, Monica, you're free to go."

>;-) Vanity, always gets 'em in the end.

All the best,
		Gav.

[Eric-chat] IRC Chat.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Folks,

Sorry to spam the archives, but by tonight I mean from now till 0:00 hrs
GMT.

Yours,
	Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Suggestion

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Chaps,

I have been thinking of the organisational aspect of things and I have
come to the conclusion that the best system of starting our global coup
on Micro$oft would be each start our own 'Eric' company in our
respective countries.

When we are all set up, we can join forces as a cooperative
multinational, and put a *serious* thorn in Billy G's backside. (|B-)

The choice is yours, Troops.

All the best,
		Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Getting Personnel Officer.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Guys,

I am advertising for a voluntary personnel officer in our local college.

All the best,
			Gavin.

[Eric-chat] **IMPORTANT**

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Chaps,

I need personal details on EVERYONE asap. Not wishing to sound paranoid,
but any of you could be working for 'x' firm, and monitering
sourceforge.net for juicy bits. This is something I cannot afford to
happen yet. 

The online community is supposed to be founded on trust, but I dont know
the first thing about most folks, save Ramkumar, who very kindly
submitted his resume. We need those details fast, so pls. email them to
the following addresses:

<zo...@i4...>			Andy
<ga...@ga...>	Gavin

Apologies for sounding harsh. d:-|

Yours,
	Gavin.

Re: [Eric-chat] Steve McConnell's Book.

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

I've read Debugging the development process from Micro$oft press which 
was informative.  One thing Micro$oft seems to do well is publish good 
books on.

Gavin Robert Brewer wrote:

> Andy,
> 
> I have a found a great book in the Library, written by Micro$oft, on how
> they organise and deploy their project schedules. The book is known as:
> 
> Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules,
> By Steve McConnell. (Micro$oft Press).
> 
> and is available in at an academic library or from amazon.com.
> 
> If we are to succeed in our revolution, then we need to use Micro$oft's
> strategies against them. Steve has been a consultant to many companies
> including the dreaded M$; there is literally loads of stuff on where
> companies have gone wrong, classic mistakes, as well as good models such as
> the Spiral model etc.
> 
> I am no book reviewer, but this is my bible man.
> 
> Yours,
> 		Gavin.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Eric-chat mailing list
> Eri...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/eric-chat

[Eric-chat] Suggested Reading

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Folks,

This book changed my life:

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
By Robert M. Pirsig.

It's available in bookstores for about $10 (USD).

Take a peek at:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553277472/qid=996131797/sr=2-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-2912523-9761432


All the best,
		Gavin

PS. I am posting to both Wiz and Chat channels at the moment. Andy,
could you gimme a shout when everyone is signed onto chat ? thanx. d:-)

[Eric-chat] Steve McConnell's Book.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Andy,

I have a found a great book in the Library, written by Micro$oft, on how
they organise and deploy their project schedules. The book is known as:

Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules,
By Steve McConnell. (Micro$oft Press).

and is available in at an academic library or from amazon.com.

If we are to succeed in our revolution, then we need to use Micro$oft's
strategies against them. Steve has been a consultant to many companies
including the dreaded M$; there is literally loads of stuff on where
companies have gone wrong, classic mistakes, as well as good models such as
the Spiral model etc.

I am no book reviewer, but this is my bible man.

Yours,
		Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Conference.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Guys,

I think it would be a really good idea if we had a 1 week conference next
year, to decide who we truly are and where we are going. Otherwise
communications are going to be somewhat strained.
It certainly is possible wrest the money from my bank, (if I can convince
them that it is a good idea), but we really need a good secretary to
organise all the travel and food, entertainment etc...

Not wishing to be sexist but Women are often brilliant at this sorta thing;
I'll need advice advertising for a secretary. I will be accept a male, being
a PC kinda guy, though..

All the best,
			Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Contributions Welcome

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Guys,

If you have anything to contribute, pls. submit and get your name
recorded in the annals of history. Best do it now, lest someone else
does. <|;-)

All the best,
		Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Credit where credit is due.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Folks,

I have just put references to Carnegie-Mellon in all my source code and
documentation; I think it is only fair to give credit to the architects
of Mach, for having given us this wonderful opportunity. d:-)

Thanks for your time,

			Gavin.

Re: [Eric-chat] Could someone do me a favour?

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

The where currently the only people on this list, it seams everybody 
else decided not to join.

Gavin Robert Brewer wrote:

> Ram,
> 
> Could you do me a BIG favour? 
> 
> Since you are in high standing in the US academic world, I would like
> you to talk to the designers of Mach at Carnegie Mellon University, and
> find out how they might feel about our project. 
> 
> Admitted, it may be a big mistake for us all if they take it real bad,
> but, on the other hand we could get some wonderful academic review and
> support. By all means pls. think about it...
> 
> Yours,
> 	Gavin.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Eric-chat mailing list
> Eri...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/eric-chat

Re: [Eric-chat] My background...**Long Email ALERT!**

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

Gavin Robert Brewer wrote:

> 
>> 
>> The only reason I had a computer When I was 8 was my father is a
>> principal at the school I attended and we lived next to it (it's that
>> way when you live in the country). I had a friend who got interested in
>> the apple basic and I picked up the language from him.
>> 
>> Really the computers where the schools and it wasn't until We moved to
>> the city I ever got an old IBM compatible.
> 
> 
> Man it is nice to hear about you guys and what you are doin'.
> 
> BTW. We need to get GPL and FAST! How do we go about this?

By saying "this software is lisenced under GNU GPL..."

> 
> All the best,
> 
> 		Gavin.
> 
> PS. I think we need set up an IRC chatroom, I will surf around and see what
> can be done. Email is way too slow a medium for our rate of development.
> Only benefit is that folks *think* before they write summat down.. <|:-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Eric-chat mailing list
> Eri...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/eric-chat

[Eric-chat] Could someone do me a favour?

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Ram,

Could you do me a BIG favour? 

Since you are in high standing in the US academic world, I would like
you to talk to the designers of Mach at Carnegie Mellon University, and
find out how they might feel about our project. 

Admitted, it may be a big mistake for us all if they take it real bad,
but, on the other hand we could get some wonderful academic review and
support. By all means pls. think about it...

Yours,
	Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Some minor doubts..

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Andy,

I am beginning to wonder if the idea of 'making a career' out of Eric is
really such a good thing. The initial idea was, in my mind, to
essentially do what Linus Torvalds did all over again. On the other
hand, once we start moving into the realms of 'making a profit' an
unpleasant shadow seems to hover over us all.

I have been thinking, and I guess you guys are right. I have been
spending too much time BSing about management bolx, and not enough time
getting on with my work. In fact, I am beginning to wonder who I think I
am, drafing constitutions and so on. 

Arguably, one common sentiment we all have, is to bring down Micro$oft.
Linux has given a good old swipe, but Gates is still laughing since he
knows that UNIX-based OSs will simply not catch on amongst the general
public, which is where the money is.

What Gates forgets is the fact that he is not really the Henry Ford of
computing. He is selling to largely middle-class persons who would pay
lots of money for basically what amounts to a ton of 3rd rate bloatware. 

Most folks have PC's because they need them for their business, and the
kids might need them for education and games. But I guess that if you
ask most people what they think of the latest incarnations of M$
products, and they will give a derisive response.

Guys, there are folks out there who dont know what a 'mouse' is. All
because computer technology is so grossly overpriced. Think on it.

Yours,
	Gavin.

RE: [Eric-chat] My background...**Long Email ALERT!**

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

>
>
> The only reason I had a computer When I was 8 was my father is a
> principal at the school I attended and we lived next to it (it's that
> way when you live in the country). I had a friend who got interested in
> the apple basic and I picked up the language from him.
>
> Really the computers where the schools and it wasn't until We moved to
> the city I ever got an old IBM compatible.

Man it is nice to hear about you guys and what you are doin'.

BTW. We need to get GPL and FAST! How do we go about this?

All the best,

		Gavin.

PS. I think we need set up an IRC chatroom, I will surf around and see what
can be done. Email is way too slow a medium for our rate of development.
Only benefit is that folks *think* before they write summat down.. <|:-)

Re: [Eric-chat] Copyright

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

All code written for the project without special consent from the rest 
of the developers needs to be Licensed under GPL or if it is a libray 
then LGPL.

Gavin Robert Brewer wrote:

> Folks,
> 
> Is our intellectual property protected by copyright under the GNU
> License? 
> 
> Yours,
> 	Gavin.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Eric-chat mailing list
> Eri...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/eric-chat

Re: [Eric-chat] draft Eric Constitution.

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

Gavin Robert Brewer wrote:

> Folks,
> 
> Sorry to come over all corporate, but I have some ideas regarding our
> constitution:
> 
> i) Unlike many of the (fascist) organisations out there, we could have a
> democratically elected President, Vice President and board of 10
> directors. Please note that the VIPs are merely figureheads and have no
> more power than the board. They are the ones who push the buttons, so to
> speak.
> 
> Every year, we have separate elections for all of these roles.

Off the topic, but I heard of a bank that only elected It's ceo because 
he looked like a bank CEO should, he had no real power other than to 
help some deals.

> 
> ii) We have a Matrix Management scheme which empowers those who are
> enthusiastic and competant, regardless of heirarchy and supposed
> 'experience'. The thinking on this is to save on management overhead and
> decision making times where possible; this will compensate for the
> overhead of elections and democratic decision making etc.
> 
> Matrix management is essentially a decentralised distributed network of
> people, each one fulfilling her personal function as a reflection of her
> skills. This is an alternative to the rigidly heirarchical systems of
> todays 'old school' management.

I think if you can prove your way is better, eg faster, more secure, 
better, etc... there needs to be some way to say the better way will 
replace the old way.

> 
> iii) A universal casual dress code for all. Guys, if you can program
> well, have the technical know-how and the enthusiasm, you can wear
> anything you like. Period. However, in offsite meetings with big
> business we have to come to some compromise, a smart image is essential
> here.

As long as you wear something.

> 
> iv) We invest in young people. No more shall the dead weight of 50-year
> old directors trap the young and the enthusiastic. No more shall office
> politics hold us all back. We are all from one, out of one, and to one
> goal. Let it be so.
> 
> v) We are an Equal Opportunities employer. We will discriminate on no
> basis whatsoever, except perhaps being good at the job. We endeavour to
> use our technology to connect people across diverse Geographic, Cultural
> and Religious identities, both within the organisation and without. Let
> it be so.
> 
> Any amendments, or other ideas pls. let me know. This draft constitution
> is far from perfect or complete.
> 
> All the best,
> 		Gavin.
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Eric-chat mailing list
> Eri...@li...
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/eric-chat

Re: [Eric-chat] My background...**Long Email ALERT!**

[Andrew T. <zo...@i4...>]

The only reason I had a computer When I was 8 was my father is a 
principal at the school I attended and we lived next to it (it's that 
way when you live in the country). I had a friend who got interested in 
the apple basic and I picked up the language from him.

Really the computers where the schools and it wasn't until We moved to 
the city I ever got an old IBM compatible.

Andrew

[Eric-chat] Copyright

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Folks,

Is our intellectual property protected by copyright under the GNU
License? 

Yours,
	Gavin.

[Eric-chat] Estimated deadline for Mach Kernel Completion

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Chaps,

Here is the estimated deadline for building and testing the Kernel
Implementation:

Estimated Deadline: 1st October 2002.

This is a good balance between being pushy and generous I think.
Feedback welcome.

Yours,
	Gav.

[Eric-chat] draft Eric Constitution.

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Folks,

Sorry to come over all corporate, but I have some ideas regarding our
constitution:

i) Unlike many of the (fascist) organisations out there, we could have a
democratically elected President, Vice President and board of 10
directors. Please note that the VIPs are merely figureheads and have no
more power than the board. They are the ones who push the buttons, so to
speak.

Every year, we have separate elections for all of these roles.

ii) We have a Matrix Management scheme which empowers those who are
enthusiastic and competant, regardless of heirarchy and supposed
'experience'. The thinking on this is to save on management overhead and
decision making times where possible; this will compensate for the
overhead of elections and democratic decision making etc.

Matrix management is essentially a decentralised distributed network of
people, each one fulfilling her personal function as a reflection of her
skills. This is an alternative to the rigidly heirarchical systems of
todays 'old school' management.

iii) A universal casual dress code for all. Guys, if you can program
well, have the technical know-how and the enthusiasm, you can wear
anything you like. Period. However, in offsite meetings with big
business we have to come to some compromise, a smart image is essential
here.

iv) We invest in young people. No more shall the dead weight of 50-year
old directors trap the young and the enthusiastic. No more shall office
politics hold us all back. We are all from one, out of one, and to one
goal. Let it be so.

v) We are an Equal Opportunities employer. We will discriminate on no
basis whatsoever, except perhaps being good at the job. We endeavour to
use our technology to connect people across diverse Geographic, Cultural
and Religious identities, both within the organisation and without. Let
it be so.

Any amendments, or other ideas pls. let me know. This draft constitution
is far from perfect or complete.

All the best,
		Gavin.

[Eric-chat] My background...**Long Email ALERT!**

[Gavin R. B. <ga...@ga...>]

Andrew Turner wrote:
> 
> Let me see,
> I started programming when I was 8 or 9. I have been looking at OS
> mailing lists for around a year. I know PHP well and a little perl,
> lately I have started to learn other languages including c/c++.

Man, that's cool d:-)

I always wanted a computer when I was a kid. Didnt get one until I was
fourteen years of age. As soon as I had got it, (an 8086), I was
straight into programming GW-BASIC and producing the best graphics I
could make on the machine. 

Admitted, I was a late starter, but there was always something about the
machines which I could resonate with. Computers were dependable, slavish
and exact, something that you just could not get from a human being. I
remember reading Neil Ardley's introductory book on Computers when I was
about 9 or 10; 'had program ideas even then...d;-) 

One might say that I had a dream of programming supercomputers, being
one of the 'high priesthood', but somehow it was always for someone
else, someone richer. It was the tool of the oppressor, man but at 14 it
was MINE!! 

What really inspired me in those days was the film TRON. I became
obsessed with recreating those effects on my home PC, and, (somewhat
naievely), on the BBC Micros at school. A friend and I found the source
code to a cool little flight sim, and began an attempted hackathon at
school to produce it. Shame we could not get it to compile...

At fifteen, I started to grow very interested in digital electronics,
and a book named Basic Electronics by Malcolm Plant inspired me to learn
Boolean Algebra, even at that tender age. Boolean algebra fascinated me,
and it was a hint that although useless at humdrum bod arithmetic, I had
ability with abstract math. I loved the subject and found myself
imagining how one might build up an entire specification using boolean
algebra alone.

When I started A-Level, I hadnt even taken the GCSE. Seems strange, but
I felt that the GCSE was probably so straightforward anyhow so I skipped
it in favour of modern languages. When the A-Level began I learnt
rapidly, since I was already a self-taught hacker with a good knowledge
of electronics.

I was disappointed when I only got a 'D' grade at the end of it all.
What I didnt know about at the time was my dyslexia. The whole matter
was a let down after having got 73% in my visual basic project,
modelling the behaviour of molecules in a box.

It wasnt until the 2nd year of my Physics/Electronics degree scheme that
I discovered the truth about my condition, and by then it was too late.
The social pressures had caved in on me, and I had become a cybernetic
recluse, spending all-night binges mudding and developing my own MUD. 

Before I left I set up a volatile little following developing a MUD
named Daedalus. The project was ambitious at the time, but arguments
about setting up multiclasses and races etc tore the whole project to
bits. Some big egos put their time and effort into the project and the
whole thing blew.

I decided never again that it would happen.

Anyhow, since then I attempted maths at the same Uni, was getting A's
but dropped out coz' of stress, and then went unemployed for yonks. I
got very depressed after having been spurned by the love of my life, and
also because of the recent discovery of my dyslexic condition.

At the fall of 1999, I enrolled in a 3 year degree in Computing at a
local polytechnic. I was a jaded and entirely different student by then.
Believe me, I just wanted to get the degree finished and under my belt,
and so did my parents. Poverty was always at the back of my mind as I
spend goodly parts of my overdraft building up my own machine from hand.

By the end of this academic year I had gotten almost straight A's. This
was brilliant as I had never been a straight A student before. Now I was
sitting, quietly awaiting the final year of my degree scheme and working
as a technician when *BANG* I was fired because the boss didnt like the
way I was "settling in".

That and the loss of the 2nd love of my life send me into a
mini-depression. Apparently folks at work took offense to my enthusiasm
and knowledge, just wanting me to get on with the job and keep my mouth
shut, and my ambition ZERO.

Then, at home, desperate for a cause to take up...I found
sourceforge.net. Almost immediately I saw an advertisment for software
developers to work on a new OS. I jumped at the chance, I had been
wanting to do systems software for years now, and now was my chance to
have a hand in building a new OS.

Well, the rest is known to you I suppose. Seems like I have been blowing
my trumpet lots, but the email interface can be a little lacking in
intimacy so I feel the desire to communicate. d;-)

Yours,
	Gavin B.