[Hamlib-developer] Greetings!

[Nate B. <n0...@ne...>]

Hello hamlib developers.

First off, I am very intrigued about this project as I believe it fills
a need.  Second, I am a total novice at coding as I have a basic
understanding of C, but have had no formal training.  So, I've been
looking at the hamlib source code over the past week trying to figure it
out (I have a long way to go!).

With that in mind, I'd be willing to lend what help I can to
documentation and such.  I've written a bit of HTML (link in my sig) and
have been tinkering with other stuff from time to time.  Unfortunately,
I'm no graphics designer, so I'm pretty much limited to text.

As for being able to test things, I am running Debian 2.2r2 Linux and
have access to the following radios:

FT-920
FT-890
FT-212
FT-5100  (not sure if it supports CAT)

I would have to procure an FIF-232 to test any but the '920.  Is CAT
command documentation needed for any of these radios?

Finally, I had some thoughts on hmalib itself.

I read through the developer list archive and was able to track the
recent changes to the API.  I realize hamlib's goal is to present a
consistent API to a program no matter the radio it is talking to.
However, with the myriad of rigs out there it certainly seems difficult
to support every feature of these radios with (what seems to me at
least) a restricted API.  Is there a possibility of providing a sort of
"pass-through" function that would allow an application to access a
specialized function of a given radio?  I suppose an application's
author could always load a given rig's library directly, but that would
be messy and outside the design of hamlib.  Just a thought I had.

I must admit that as a long time user of Free/open source software I was
initially confused by its 1.1.0 ALPHA version, which, to me at least,
seems a bit high for this stage of development.  Of course, the version
number is simply a reference for the developer and user and can be
anything (witness the shrinkwrap insanity over the past years) the
developer chooses.  I mention this simply because it will likely get
mentioned again by others. :-)

All in all, I am pleased this project exists.  Anything that helps
introduce Linux to hams or make Linux more attractive is a plus in my
books.

73, de Nate >>

-- 
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