ATTN: All Linux users!

hijinks21 · 08-13-2003, 01:09 PM

For the past few years I've always wanted to make a killer app for in car use for Linux. I've worked with the Media Engine team and the only reason I use windows in my car is cause there is nothing like ME in linux. Yes I know freevo and mythtv but looking at how it handles mp3's and such I don't feel thats a good option.

What I'd like to do is to design something along the lines of ME for linux. Something that has a very easy user interface and is nice to look at.

I'd want to know if anyone would want this. I have some free time now and might jump into this. I'd love to make a whole car linux distro out of this that a newbie could install and be running very easily. I'd also like to know if anyone would be interested in helping. This would be an open source project that is GPLed so anyone can hack the code as they wish.

Well just let me know. maybe this is just a pipe dream

Callahan · 08-13-2003, 02:46 PM

For sure.

The only thing that keeps me from using Linux is the fact that there just isn't any "perfect" software like there is for Windows. I'd like to see something that uses FB instead of X to do this though.. Much faster to load and less bloat in the OS.

xanimal · 08-13-2003, 03:58 PM

I would be up for it. Although I dont know how to program in Linux, but I would defenantly be up for testing and any type of help that I could offer. I am pretty much with you on the fact that I really havent found a piece of software that handles things like the ones in Windows. I have been messing with Linux off and on for several years now. So I would like to finally make the transition.

Steve

nottastocker · 08-13-2003, 04:08 PM

i be willing to help out, i have studied alot of c++, so if that's what ur going to code in, i'd be more than willing to take part in it; if not, id still be able to help with testing/documentation(website, maybe on my domain?)
shawn

spyhunter · 08-13-2003, 04:57 PM

i'll pitch in as well...guess that means i need to reinstall linux

hijinks21 · 08-13-2003, 07:48 PM

dellysse_com and spyhunter and others.. if you want to help I'm on the #mp3car chatroom on efnet 9am-5pm eastern most days. You can contact me on aol (hijinks7) or email me

mike at zcentric dot com

I'm still deciding on what to use and such.. so i'm open to lots of suggestions. I have never coded a linux gui app before so i'm a newbie but i consider myself a good programmer.

I'd like to get a big group effort on this.. even if you can just chip in.. all the help we can get would be great. This is a big task for 1-2 people to do.

unrealer33 · 08-14-2003, 02:42 AM

What dont you like about freevo? I think it's great

hijinks21 · 08-14-2003, 07:42 AM

freevo wouldnt be good for a in-car app. its great for htpc. US ME then use freevo and tell me which one you want in your car.

Maxis24 · 08-14-2003, 11:44 AM

I would be interested in helping. I am only in my second year of Comp Sci courses, so I am not sure about how much help I'd be (I have NEVER programmed for anything except for Unix command line).

Also, I am going to be at one of the best Comp Sci schools in the midwest (UMR), I'd be bound to find a few bored people.

The Undertaker · 08-14-2003, 02:03 PM

It does exits, although it doesn't look as good as ME
www.dashpc.com

hijinks21 · 08-14-2003, 02:11 PM

yes i'm aware of dashPC. I hate it..

If anyone is interested.. the only way I'm gonna start is if people contact me.. AOL or IRC is the best.

Hijinks7 on aol
Jy on efnet.. in the Mp3car chatroom

Callahan · 08-14-2003, 03:27 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by The Undertaker

It does exits, although it doesn't look as good as ME
www.dashpc.com

Yea, DashPC is pretty damn ugly if you ask me. especially the original version. I wouldn't run it in my car.

SiGmA_X · 08-14-2003, 03:46 PM

I'm a Linux man myself. I am just starting to learn C++ (Just finished 1st sysmester in it at college) so I would be willing to help with what I can do. I know a lot more Java then C++ tho.. I know a few C++ people who would be willing to help. We all program in Linux anways, so that helps

I'll go try to join efnet, but I was having some problems with the ident ****..

hijinks21 · 08-14-2003, 08:53 PM

Here is what I'm thinking.. like I said I'm totally open to any and all ideas. I was playing around with qt-designer and its really nice. From what I read it has a big learning curve but once you got it.. your good to go. It uses c or c++ also. Pretty much its a C app using the qt widget set.

Mxyzpltk · 08-15-2003, 09:38 AM

It seems like most Linux users are command-line guys... they're perfectly happy with a two-line text LCD as their display. After looking at dozens of Linux car projects, I found nothing I wanted to use...

...so I very predictably decided to write my own front end. So far, I've written a basic script that can display images at arbitrary positions on the screen, and trigger actions when they are clicked. The only working action so far is to move between screens of buttons. Buttons can also toggle between two images to indicate state (ie, shuffle on, shuffle off). The screens, buttons, images, and actions are enumerated in an external config file to make redesigning (ie, skinning) the interface trivial for the non-coder.

I'm doing this with Perl and Tk. Perl appears to be the clear choice for glue code on Linux; so far, I'm really enjoying working with it. Perl is similar to C in many ways, but isn't as stiff or constraining... it allows the coder to bob and weave like a drunken master. I chose Tk because of the Canvas widget, the only one I'm using on my form. With the Canvas, it's easy to place objects (like images, text, or vector graphics) on the screen and make them interactive.

My plans include integration with mpg123 for music, gpsdrive for mapping, kismet for wardriving, and an OBDII interface for interfacing with the car itself. I was also imagining a "remote control" interface - probably HTML - so I can control the car remotely with my PDA using wifi (this would of course be carefully access controlled).

I am a coder in "real life" and this is acutally the second complete car PC front end I've written. Whatever code I write will be released under the GPL when it's usable. If anyone wants my code before then, or wants to combine efforts, that's groovy. I regard this project as a fun way for me to learn more about Perl and Linux, and it would make me real happy if the resulting project led a few more people away from Micro$oft.