What's do i need for work and use of android and ubuntu? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 12:49:18 pm
content: I already would work by some Cortex-A boards(for instance Cubieboard, Marsboard,...) but i have heared for work by this board we should learn linux but i have a problem! The problem is that i don't know how to use and do some changes on the Linux distributions(Also, in my case, I want to use of android and or ubuntu). In other word, I'm a newbie(beginner).now, my questions are:What's do i need for work and use of android and ubuntu?(Programs and another tools)Where can i download the android for my purpose? also, i could found a link in this page:Free Download Android OS 4.1.1 Jelly Beanis this suitable?Please suggest me any Tutorial, Example, Web-Page and etc. Thanks

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 01:00:59 pm
content: I don't mean to discourage you, its just almost all your threads regarding your plan/quest/ambition are way-way too high and you just not ready or even have the level required to understand or use it, let alone to make/build/hack one.I've seen it too many threads of yours, just a simple example like this ->What do i need for making and design RF circuits?, in that thread, it is like you're so busy asking what kind of tools or equipment needed to repair/fix a jet fighter that you're so eagerly to fly, still you don't have the plane yet, while you still don't know how to drive a bicycle or even understand the basic mechanism to fix a cycle.I see this thread is no different to many other thread of yours.

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 01:15:52 pm
content: BravoV,i think it's not true that you Interference to anyone (at least in my culture). i'm a curious/effortful to learn some thing. i need to get answer of this question. if you can answer me, then reply me but if you can't then don't send spam. Ok?thanks

author: rules
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 02:46:24 pm
content: You can start off by loading Ubuntu (which is arguably one of the coolest OS's out there) by downloading it from herehttp://www.ubuntu.com/. You can either set up a dual boot system or run it as an application through Windows.That's as far as I can help I'm afraid

author: Gustav
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 07:18:02 pm
content: If you want to develop for Android is as simple as downloading their sdkhttp://developer.android.com/sdk/index.htmli do though suggest having a android phone to test the software on.

author: xtv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 04:37:37 am
content: If you already have knowledge on some computer science concepts (operating systems, hardware architecture, compilers, and so) I would recommend a book about embedded Linux systems. "Building Embedded Linux Systems" by Karim Yaghmour is a pleasant read that may guide you through this journey. GL.

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 08:37:55 pm
content: Quote from: rozeh on September 17, 2013, 01:15:52 pmApparently, your ISP blocks Google?

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2013, 02:33:16 pm
content: Thanks guys.Quote from: Skimask on September 20, 2013, 08:37:55 pmWhat?

author: alxnik
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 08:22:41 am
content: First things first. Android and general purpose linux - debian based ubuntu in your case - are very different beasts and you cannot even learn about them in a single shot. You should start with a raspberry pi which is also debian based. If you know debian, you know 95% of ubuntu and the raspi is very beginner focused.Although you might feel that BravoV has insulted you, the news are not very good. In order to work on linux efficiently (or any UNIX for that matter), you need at least some years worth of experience. You cannot do a learning session of about a week and then start building a new smartphone. So if you really are motivated in this you should focus on learning as the target itself and not as a means to an end.

author: rozeh
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 05:14:11 pm
content: Quote from: alxnik on September 29, 2013, 08:22:41 amThanks for reply.In fact, I need to see the source code of some modules of android(like camera).So, i like the BravoV and all the British.i have several englandin friend in avrfreaks.net(Atmel's web-site for 8bits and AVR). no problem, i think it is just a cultural differences.

author: AndrejaKo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2013, 10:53:00 pm
content: Since you like asking complicated questions which seem to be over your head, I'm going to recommend learning to use GNU/Linux by running Gentoo, on a PC!Gentoo is different from other distributions because it is basically built from round up by downloading source code of the programs you want to run and then compiling it. It has very nice tool which is used to manage dependencies between packages and automatically start compiling them, so the whole process isn't very difficult. It also allows the compiled programs to be optimized specifically for processor your computer has.The reason why I think it would be great for you is because you'll be able to learn in great detail exactly how various packages in a GNU/Linux distribution interact together and how they are related to each other.When you start installing Gentoo, you just stat out with a disk that can only boot into text mode and from that point you have to arrange partition table your self by hand, copy needed data from disk to be able to boot Gentoo from HDD, dowload required packaged from the Internet and set the up, learn exactly where and how each option is set and why it's important.Up to this point, this may all sound very difficult and confusing, but that's where the part of Gentoo I like to most comes into play. Gentoo has a great hadnbook that in great detail explains exactly what you should do, WHY you should do it (and I can't stress this enough, you'll actually be able to learn how things work and not just how to follow a magical formula) and if you don't want to do it, what your alternatives are. It will guide you from starting out with just a minimal system that booted from CD to running a complete GNU/Linux operating system with real GUI.Even if you later decide that you don't want to use Gentoo on your system, you'll learn how things really work in the background and you'll be able to figure out yourself what's wrong and what to do. I think that such abilities would be especially useful to you, since you want to use those simple single-board computers.I, however, would NOT recommend you to start with Ubuntu/Kubuntu or any similar derivative. The reason for that is extremely simple: There's way how most distributions do things and then there's how Ubuntu does them. Ubuntu people simply like to modify everything and make it "simpler". In my opinion, the result is that things are now so "simple" that user is left without many options or ways to learn what to do in which situation.Imagine this scenario:User wants to do X.Ubuntu says: "Looks like you're trying to shoot yourself in the foot. We won't let you do this.""Why?", asks the user."Because creators of Ubuntu have decided that this is how it will be and they're smarter than you!", says Ubuntu.On the other hand, Gentoo, with its documentation, will let you do whatever you want and explain the consequences of making such action.Should you decide that Gentoo is too complicated to you, I would recommend Debian, which may others have mentioned.Finally a little bit about why I recommend PC for start: There is a very large number of resources available for PC and that will allow you to study the internals of GNU/Linux without having any problems that could be specific to the board you decide to get. It will also be very fast as well.EDIT: Looks like I forgot to mention couple of things. I've been using GNU/Linux sporadically from 2003. I wasn't completely comfortable with it until I installed Gentoo for the first time, that was back in 2006 or 2007. It took me a whole week and I lost all data on my HDD (it was my own fault, of course), but since then I have feeling that I can jump into almost any GNU/Linux distribution and be able to work out any problem. I used it as my primary OS until KDE4, GNOME3 and Unity chased me away from the platform.

author: danater
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 30, 2013, 10:47:25 pm
content: Quote from: rozeh on September 17, 2013, 12:49:18 pmsimple way is the way I learned to swim, that is either jump in with both feet or have your brother (my case my older sister) shove you in the water.1) get a computer that you can care less about losing data or a hard drive that is free2) load up debian, or gentoo, or any other "flavor" of linux you want, hell I run 28 versions myself. my personal fav is debian and fedora core, (also run 5 servers with centos on em).****** this is a warning: FEDORA CORE: its cutting edge bleeding edge software,****** second warning: not all "linux" flavors are the same, you will have to expand your horizons beyond "o its point and click "3) get eclipse SDK java version.4) go to android website, follow the instructions for installing android on your eclipse, they have a complete package and bravo ITS FREE!5) learn java with android and the idiosyncrasies of that language6) the goal here is to have a better understanding of the language and the basics of computer programming7) once you have a good understanding of that, then you can start doing what it really takes to be a hardware programmer.learn assembly (all 28 to 32 codes for it) and the power of it, then you can pull off just about anything you want to make a fast program run on embedded systemsI have to tell you, if you want to make a project that is more than just a hacked version of something, you have to know, understand, comprehend, be best friends with, (how many more ways to tell this), be intimately in tune with the logic as well as the chip and how the chip thinks before you can have a REALLY good embedded system.if your going to do android, its a mid level abstraction, you let java do 90% of the grunt work. But this takes time and cycles for things to get done. you can easily optimize it just by knowing the base hardware and make it approx 20% faster by doing a bit of grunt work yourself.id also suggest you look up a book called "hackers delight" by Henry S. Warren Jr. I can promise you, that book has saved my rear more than I can count, its worth every penny

author: garak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 02:04:16 am
content: Quote from: AndrejaKo on September 29, 2013, 10:53:00 pmPretty much this. I strongly recommend you DO NOT start with Ubuntu. It looks good on the surface, but it's really so dumbed down and simplified that it doesn't actually TEACH you anything. Everyone can use a point a click GUI, the skill is knowing what's going on UNDERNEATH. This allows you to bail your ass out when the pretty, fancy hold-your-hand-and-change-your-diaper software goes away.While starting with Gentoo might seem daunting, there are plenty of tutorials and guides to help you on your way. If it's still too hard, try Debian instead.EDIT: I forgot the second part of your question.Android is Linux in the smallest possible way. It uses the kernel and a rather small set of the standard libraries and utilities. Pretty much everything else is custom. It's really nothing like conventional desktop Linux, there's no X, there's no ALSA, there are lots of funny interfaces, drivers and tweaks. I can't really speak for learning it because I absolutely LOATHE it, but I'd say that it's important to learn desktop Linux first so that you've at least got a leg to stand on.Garak,

author: liquibyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 02:15:36 am
content: I wouldn't point him towards Gentoo to start because he'll get lost in optimization and not what he wants to do. I never recommend Gentoo to a linux newbie for that very reason. PerhapsArchwould be a better fit. There hasn't been much I haven't been able to get done with it besides installing stubborn win programs with wine. Still can't get Altium to install. They really need to port that.

author: AndrejaKo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2013, 07:37:40 am
content: I thing that getting lost in optimization is a useful side effect of using Gentoo. Wasting a lot of time getting that one 1% performance improvement is useful for two reasons: First, it's a good way to learn how to get it and second, it's a good way to (eventually) understand how it doesn't really matter. That way, I learned both to respect my own time enough so that I don't waste it and at the same time I learned how to get the most out of my computer. Also the slower the computer is, the more important optimizations are. This could be helpful on ARM platforms.I've heard good things about Arch, but I didn't use it myself, so I won't comment if it's good or not.