Which Linux distributions do you use?

[Akshay]

Xubuntu

[Ido_Wolf]

Personal desktop - Ubuntu 12.10, old laptop - Puppy Linux (Precise), old desktop - Lubuntu.

By the way, LabVIEW for FRC (well, LabVIEW RT) is the only application that I couldn't either replace with a native Linux alternative or use with Wine, which is why I still have a Windows installation as the main OS on my new laptop, and on a virtual machine in my desktop. I'm eagerly waiting for this to end.

[AlexBrinister]

I wonder if one can request LabVIEW for Linux from FRC. Also, FRC should be asked if they could start supplying support for the Linux version of Wind River Workbench.

Alex Brinister

[Ido_Wolf]

Originally Posted by AlexBrinister

I wonder if one can request LabVIEW for Linux from FRC. Also, FRC should be asked if they could start supplying support for the Linux version of Wind River Workbench.

Alex Brinister

I assume you can, but since it lacks FRC components/updates it probably wouldn't help you much. I've also managed to get a Windows installation on WINE, but certain components failed to install (MS Silverlight etc...), so it was up and running but I could only get individual VI's to open. Full fledged robot projects just couldn't load, quite obviously.

I assume Linux enthusiasts (other than myself?) would rather just go with C++ and find all sorts of workarounds to get code running the same way a WindRiver project would. But honestly, I'd love to see FIRST taking measures to make this project more Linux-friendly. We're aspiring to bring the most out of science and technology, and as far as technology goes Linux had always been an important of the computer science world and its incredible community of programmers never fails to deliver top notch software. It would've been great if FIRST acknowledged that part of the industry, at the very least with a Driver station/Dashboard version for Linux distros.

[AlexBrinister]

I assume Linux enthusiasts (other than myself?) would rather just go with C++ and find all sorts of workarounds to get code running the same way a WindRiver project would.

You are correct. I'm using this toolchain.

From what I understand, FIRST is skeptical of Linux because it would take a tremendous effort to port everything and to train their staff how to deal with Linux problems. They chose a system the majority of people use or can quite easily learn to use so they would reach a larger taregt audience. As more and more people start using and preferring Linux, I think they will make the switch. I think they also need to start opening up their software to the teams so as to get a wider base of ready and willing programmers so the porting would potentially go faster.

[wlmeng11]

Arch on my personal machines (laptop and desktop).

Our team's server is Ubuntu.

Our Raspberri Pi that is for vision processing is running ArchARM.

I know that others on my team are running Ubuntu, Fedora, and Gentoo.

[jds2001]

Well, being a Fedora contributor, Fedora is my Linux distro of choice. But I'm writing this on a Windows box! Why you ask? FRC is the reason I have to use Windows. Mainly the DS, but the NI Vision Assistant is nice too. And Inventor. And whatever else there is that I'm not thinking of.

However, like has already been said in this thread - we're here to inspire the scientists of tomorrow. That inspiration can't happen without exposing them to what they're using in the real world, and in reality - that's going to be Linux. That's all that I use at work except for productivity apps (Outlook, etc - and that's because of where I work requires it, ew!), and it's just going to be going more and more that way.

I hope that with the RFP for the 2015 control system, Linux support was taken into account. Not holding my breath, though.

[AlexBrinister]

I hope that with the RFP for the 2015 control system, Linux support was taken into account. Not holding my breath, though.

byteit101, rbmj, and I are working on the custom toolchain that will allow programmers to build and test their software from the three major platforms (Linux, Windows, OSX). So far, we the compiler suite (Gcc, Binutils) is working on Linux. However, we are still working out packaging and Windows/OSX builds.

We encourage people to join this project as byteit101 has brought it up at WPI and they like the idea. If the project can be successfully finished by next season, the FIRST Research Group at WPI is willing to accept it as an official build platform for next season. You can check out the Developers page on the Wiki to see what needs to be done. There are plenty of things to do so any contribution, big or small, is welcome!

For Arch users, there is a working build of the toolchain on the AUR. Check out the Wiki. However, I'm working on repackaging, so stay tuned! Ubuntu packages are being worked on too.

Alex Brinister

[taichichuan]

+1 for Mint. I've used Connamon, Mate, XFCE and currently KDE. XFCE is great for a lower powered laptop. KDE really requires GPU acceleration to make it fly with lots of eye candy.

[flameout]

This is probably beating a dead horse by now, but I'll add that I'm currently on Mint (Xfce, but I'm eyeing Cinnamon).

Additionally, my last year as a student programmer, I did all my work on Gentoo.

[gluxon]

I am a full Ubuntu guy. Running 13.04 Beta because I can't wait for it to come out! (though I'm on Windows atm for FRC dev)

I wish FIRST would release a Driver Station port for Linux. Can't imagine that would be too complicated. :'(

[indiv0]

ArchARM on my RPi (thinking about doing vision processing on it for off-season play), and Arch on my desktop and laptop with mainly Awesome WM or Xmonad (i3 is pretty nice too).

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by gluxon

I wish FIRST would release a Driver Station port for Linux. Can't imagine that would be too complicated. :'(

Given the difficulty of supporting the Cypress I/O board even under various versions of Windows, you should probably stretch your imagination a bit.

[gluxon]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Given the difficulty of supporting the Cypress I/O board even under various versions of Windows, you should probably stretch your imagination a bit.

It should be as simple as recompiling for Linux. Unless I'm mistaken, it's the same LabView runtime.

[Greg McKaskle]

I believe the Cypress board requires a Programming Tool that discovers the device and downloads a new custom firmware. It requires a Service called CyMiniProg3Service to be running that recognizes the device when plugged in and reconfigures it. It requires a DLL called NICYAPI.dll which does the lower level USB communications.

If you can get those three items ported over, or equivalent substitutions, you are correct, it will be simple.

http://www.cypress.com/?app=forum&id=2492&rID=72383
This forum thread may be related to the first item. I didn't search the second. The third item, along with the custom firmware were made by an NI employee -- in volunteer mode.

My point is, it doesn't hurt to ask "why" or "what would it take" questions. Those typically lead to good investigations and research and learning. But assuming something is simple can make trivialize the other people's work.

I can assure you that nobody has an agenda to keep linux or other operating systems out of the FRC system. In fact, the blue 2009 DS ran linux.

Greg McKaskle