Raspberry Pi - $35 Linux computer

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And teach programming with a language that involves using whitespace to decide of the execution path is going to make fantastic programmers!

Forcing newbies to learn proper indentation? You honestly can't see the benefit in teaching that?

As for using C, this is for basic education for school children. Not that theres anything wrong with C, but I think most kids would appreciate a language where you'll get stuff done, and if they enjoy that then they'll probably start cutting their teeth on more bare bones languages.
 
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Just starting dipping into python myself ready for my Pi.
Going to use it for a CCTV system, at the moment ive hacked together some code, snipets off the net which is reading my Wifi IP camera, getting the image, checking for motion and writing the image out to a file :)
Just got a simple image viewer also coded up in python too to view the images that are written.
Next job is to implement them all into a simple gui.
 
Forcing newbies to learn proper indentation? You honestly can't see the benefit in teaching that?

As for using C, this is for basic education for school children. Not that theres anything wrong with C, but I think most kids would appreciate a language where you'll get stuff done, and if they enjoy that then they'll probably start cutting their teeth on more bare bones languages.

Claiming one doesn't do anything done in C is one of the funniest statement I've read in a long while. C is still 90% of all major operating systems. Next time you see an operating system written in Python, come back and tell us.

And how is that any better than JAVA anyway? You'll still get a generation of people who have no friggin clue about how a computer actually work, and either will go into finance instead, or will be yet-another-lame CS candidate I won't interview.

Programmers need to know how a processor works. There is no way around it, and it's actually not only fun, but something that completely opens the understanding of how all the other "languages" work, the operating systems work etc.
 
Claiming one doesn't do anything done in C is one of the funniest statement I've read in a long while. C is still 90% of all major operating systems. Next time you see an operating system written in Python, come back and tell us.

And how is that any better than JAVA anyway? You'll still get a generation of people who have no friggin clue about how a computer actually work, and either will go into finance instead, or will be yet-another-lame CS candidate I won't interview.

Programmers need to know how a processor works. There is no way around it, and it's actually not only fun, but something that completely opens the understanding of how all the other "languages" work, the operating systems work etc.

Can you recommend a good starting point for programming?
 
Its funny reading all these comments. What I find interesting is that it really does not matter which language is taught, as long as it follows OO programming.

The fundamental issue is that basic logic needs to be understood, kids don't really have to learn about registers, MBR, ALU etc...

I'm no advocate for python and the only use for python for me is strictly scripting to get everyday work done, it owns bash any day.

Python is very lax with respect to syntax and is not as strict as some languages and as a bonus promotes indentation! If kids learn logic first and foremost, learn about conditional statement, loops and OO programming ... and practice what they learn in python then really it's all syntax. If they take to programming, there they have the basic fundamental requirements to program in any language.

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Can you recommend a good starting point for programming?

Personally I would say C++ because it teaches you everything. On a practical note grab a Python compiler and google for tutorials, "learn how to program in python" and your first program will probably be the infamous "Hello World!". The only book I ever owned on C++ is by Stroustrup, but that is for reference only.

Once you have the basics it's a matter of reading the API for what ever library you need to get the job done or perhaps write your own library and API
 
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Can you recommend a good starting point for programming?

I would actually recommend something like an Arduino. It's very simple, doesn't need a screen, doesn't have an operating system, but if you play with it (most especially of you program in C) it will give you a good base on how a small processor work.
And you can do cool stuff, like blink a LED. Quite frankly, blinking a LED programmatically with one instruction is probably as fun as anything else who is learning to program.

If you want to dig, read a bit the AVR (the processor that is the arduino) documentation, and see about writing a bit of assembler for it. It's the "lower level" under the hood thing...

The funny thing is, it *scales* -- once you understand the assembler of the AVR, you know 80% of the assembler of the x86, powerpc, ARM etc -- they are all similar. Of course there are heaps of complexity added, peripherals etc, but the base is there...

And once you understand /that/ you understand how the "language" you are currently using is munching your code into the lower-level equivalent, and therefore you immediately will know how to write better, more efficient code in that language. And that knowledge wills serve you forever...
 
I would actually recommend something like an Arduino. It's very simple, doesn't need a screen, doesn't have an operating system, but if you play with it (most especially of you program in C) it will give you a good base on how a small processor work.
And you can do cool stuff, like blink a LED. Quite frankly, blinking a LED programmatically with one instruction is probably as fun as anything else who is learning to program.

If you want to dig, read a bit the AVR (the processor that is the arduino) documentation, and see about writing a bit of assembler for it. It's the "lower level" under the hood thing...

The funny thing is, it *scales* -- once you understand the assembler of the AVR, you know 80% of the assembler of the x86, powerpc, ARM etc -- they are all similar. Of course there are heaps of complexity added, peripherals etc, but the base is there...

And once you understand /that/ you understand how the "language" you are currently using is munching your code into the lower-level equivalent, and therefore you immediately will know how to write better, more efficient code in that language. And that knowledge wills serve you forever...

Thanks for that, funnily enough I've been working on a few projects using micro controllers recently and I think Arduino would have been a natural progression so that's good to know.
 
Claiming one doesn't do anything done in C is one of the funniest statement I've read in a long while. C is still 90% of all major operating systems. Next time you see an operating system written in Python, come back and tell us.

And how is that any better than JAVA anyway? You'll still get a generation of people who have no friggin clue about how a computer actually work, and either will go into finance instead, or will be yet-another-lame CS candidate I won't interview.

Programmers need to know how a processor works. There is no way around it, and it's actually not only fun, but something that completely opens the understanding of how all the other "languages" work, the operating systems work etc.

Grossly misinterpreting my point doesn't make you right, it just makes you look silly. On that matter, how many 12 year olds do you know who develop operating systems?

I'm going you to assume you actually have an iota how these things work based on your obviously legendary interview skills, so I will ask again; do you honestly not see the value in a language that forces proper indentation as a training tool for children? Do you honestly think a language like C is a better introductory language to kids, when probably 90% of them probably won't be able to come up with _anything_ of interest to them? Scaring kids away isn't going to help create a generation of uber geeks either.

It's immeterial anyway, as 90% of the python will run fast enough, and when it doesn't you can always have something like C do the heavy lifting, nor is there anything stopping you forgoing python and using your own language de jure. As I stated, I believe in using the right tool for the job and C is a fine tool at that. It's just not going to be the most productive language when you're just trying to get stuff done, with no additional criteria. If you don't understand that, then I'm sure most of those lame CS kids have no interest in an interview anyway. :)
 
In retrospect they definitely should have waited until stock arrived before launch to keep the buzz going, its all starting to feel a little limp at the moment. Don't get me wrong I still think this will be a success and I respect what they are trying to achieve but its always nice to see something exciting launch with a bang rather than a fizzle.
 
Considering you can get a decent android tablet with better specs than this for about £120 I can't see it being worth even trying unless you just want a project.

You can get pretty cheap ones off the bay. They won't be the multi-touch shiny shiny ones you get on a smart phone though. Nice enough for a little home brew project though.
 
More testing...

Welcome to the latest Raspberry Pi update from RS Components!
Much has been happening behind the scenes since you received our last update, not least the start of compliance testing on the Raspberry Pi.
Why are we doing this? Compliance testing is an essential part of bringing any electronic product to market. The Raspberry Pi is being tested to make sure it conforms to all the regulations that apply to electronic devices around the world. This means that we can be sure the Raspberry Pi we deliver to you meets the correct standards and is as safe as you would expect any electronic device you purchase to be.
We’re working with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to manage the testing process as quickly as possible, while ensuring all tests are carried out to guarantee safety. More information is being posted on the Raspberry Pi website , as well as on our own FAQ pages rswww.com or DesignSpark. We’re also regularly tweeting updates on progress. Follow @RSElectronics on twitter to catch the latest news.
Alongside this, we’ve also been contacting the first group of people who registered for a Raspberry Pi from RS, to help us plan delivery of the initial batch of boards. In next week’s update, we’ll provide more information on how we’re managing the queue and the order process.
 
id say 2 months or even more since they have to fix the manufacturing error also

my pre order (farnell) said it will arrive by the end of may which is taking forever to arrive
summer + this will keep my brains going :D
 
Got an email from Farnell, most notable part:

'Regrettably we cannot give any firm delivery commitments on Raspberry Pis until this testing is complete. Please be assured we will provide this information as soon as we can.'

This must be the worst product launch in history
 
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