My dev system....

[JaseP]

A few years ago, after using a Linux based PMP to have essentially movies on demand, the batteries started going wonkly after being in the docking base too long, and I had to look for replacements. MythTV was one solution, but I wasn't ready to take the plunge yet... I ended up with two Nueros OSDs. After noticing a few neat Bluetooth apps, like signal strenght detection and such, I though t to myself, "wouldn't it be neat to be able to control the whole house with a server that had bluetooth detection capabilities and MythTV functinality?!?!" Lo and behold, after a few Google seaches I discovered Pluto Home, and then its open source offspring, LinuxMCE.

I am now in the process of building my LinuxMCE Core server: a Dell 530 with 4 GB RAM, two Haupauge 1600 cards, 3 external USB Hard Drives, 2 wireless routers, soon to have a USB Z-wave controller, an HDHomeRun, and controlling two media directors; a Dell Studio Hybrid, and an Asus EEE Box B202.

I am trying to build a compiled LinuxMCE installation based on Kubuntu Jaunty 9.04, rather than Kubuntu 8.10, primarily because of all of the problems with the later in terms of video setup (no control over your Xorg because 8.10 ignores changes to the xorg.conf file). Another reason is that the more recent Haupauge cards, like the 1600, are better supported with later kernels. Has anyone tried doing something like this???

[tschak909]

Welcome.

If you're wanting to look at the build system, you'll need to spend some time with us in #linuxmce-devel. Our build system spans multiple platforms, and is very complex.

You will need to make a number of database additions to create the necessary dependencies for MakeRelease, as well as creating new builder configuration files. You'll probably find a lot of things will break underneath during the transition to the new distribution. This is not something to attempt by yourself, and we are very busy trying to get the 8.10 release to beta.



-Thom

[JaseP]

Thom,...

With 9.04 released and with its greater similarity in video configuration to 7.10, and with 8.10 being a short term release... Why don't you guys shift gears and concentrate instead on 9.04??? You have the advantage of a newer kernel, Xorg configuration that is more customizable, and better bells and whistles like better Compiz support. I have never had a huge love for 8.10 as a release... Nothing but problems...

Ubuntu 7.10 I used for a long time, and 8.04 I was OK with, but I had a bunch of issues with 8.10, and really only use it on my one desktop that has an nVidia card (which is ironically, almost the same machine as my Core, except the desktop has, half the RAM, an older BIOS and older CPU chip, as well as an nVidia card. Wait,... I think that even my Asus Netbook uses 8.04... can't remember, because it was a quasi-custom eeebuntu release...

Jaunty 9.04 is getting rave reviews (the Ubuntu, Gnome version, at least). I have installed it (Kubuntu 9.04) on my Core, and am getting ready to build packages, once I have all the hardware running properly. I only had problems with Jaunty and my eee Box B202. It was actually the only thing that would run on my Dell Studio Hybrid. By and large, I am going to be shifting all machines in the house over to it, when I have the chance. It would be nice to have a LinuxMCE installation that is as up to the times as the rest of the computers in the house.

[tschak909]

Try the port if you wish. You're going to be in for a long haul.

It has taken us over a year and a half to engineer the build system to be able to work as a community build process, and we skipped over one release entirely so that we could do so.This is why we are doing 0810, it is _far_ too painful to change the entire distribution platform at this point, especially since we are almost in beta.

In short, when things _FINALLY DO_ stabilize, we're still looking at least 3 months more work after the release of a distribution to port everything, and that's assuming that the port process goes perfectly.

It never does. and I'm sorry, until you prove otherwise, i'm not going to assume you have the chops to single handedly do a port.

Why don't you spend some time actually studying the architecture of the system, and reading our TRAC tickets over the last year and a half, before going cowboy?

You can Prove me wrong though. I sense a certain arrogance in you, which can be a good thing, but you may want to actually spend some time looking around you, to what has gone on before, and what we already have, before you tell us what we should, and shouldn't do.

-Thom

[JaseP]

OK,... What kind of progress have you made in taming 8.10's "automagical" Xorg setup... Specifically, I need the latest Intel drivers to be back-ported to 8.10 in order for my system(s) to work... I had tried porting the Debian unstable versions, but with no avail,... Alas, until I had stumbled onto using SuSE's SAX2 to do the config file and using the latest drivers from Jaunty 9.04 Beta to get accelerated video, accelerated video was nowhere to be found.

I will admit that my compiling skills are weak (why am I having Death Star "A New Hope" flashbacks?),... and I haven't coded since the early 1980s. So, I'd have to (re?-) learn C, to get around compiler errors generated by changing versions...

I also just had a look at the bug-tracker... yuck... I thought dealing with an ant infestation was bad... So I'm game in post-poning (but not giving up) my desire to go to 9.04... Just tell me what you need from me to get my hardware working and I will gladly post. ...

By the way, I see a fair number of people appearing upset that there are no more Gyro-mice available. I have two Targus presentation pointers which have a mouse and presentation mode... I think they would make excellent replacements and can readily be found at any Staples.

If there are any developers in Eastern PA, I should be relatively close for a weekend afternoon hardware troubleshooting session.

[colinjones]

Have split this into a new topic as it is way off the topic for the original thread. Please rename the Subject as you see fit...