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BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Jul 12th, '18, 22:32
by MSandro
Hello everyone!
I have a very curious idea. Here is the history summarized:
A friend asked me if he could make a graphical user interface in GP for his Python written home control. I said yes, GP could communicate via serial ports with the Python program. I asked more closely how he imagines it. He meant a minimalist system for a RaspberryPi to run GP projects as embedded application.

This situation made me realize that this could perhaps be used for much more. Such a system could be useful for many purposes:
> (Interactive) presentations
> simple graphical interfaces to control something
> OS simulations (this might encourage a variety of kids and teenagers to deal with Linux - many scratchers seem to like OS simulations - so this system might be useful for educational purposes)


Since I am a well-versed Linux user, it would certainly be feasible for me.

I've already thought about the system:
> Debian 9 (in its minimalist design as a substructure)
> A version for Rasperrys based on Raspbian
> Fluxbox as a window manager with Xorg as a display server
> An SFTP Server where the GP projects can be exchanged over the network
> It should not be a live system for saving changes
> the installer should be easy to use (made it with SimpleCDD to configure the default debianinstaller)
BootToGP.png
I have already roughly realized the whole situation for my friend's situation. The system requires less than 1.5 GB of storage and needs than 512 MB of RAM.

development status:
> Basic Installer (done)
> Minimal base system (done)
> preinstall of libraries required for GP (done)
> automatic download of GP (done)
> automatic login (done)
> set up the SFTP (done)
> autstart of the desktop incl. GP (nearly done)
> debug tools (planed for 002)

I hope this post has aroused the interest of one or the other. Of course, I'm also open to suggestions.
Not sure where I should place this post, but it is a kind of project :D

https://github.com/MSandro/BootToGP/releases/tag/001

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Jul 20th, '18, 17:48
by Calloway
I'm not really sure I understand the implications of this :/
What would be the difference for this if someone can just download linux and run GP later on...

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Jul 20th, '18, 19:32
by Picochilla
Calloway wrote:
Jul 20th, '18, 17:48
I'm not really sure I understand the implications of this :/
What would be the difference for this if someone can just download linux and run GP later on...
If I understand right correctly, MSandro tries to build a linux installer to install a minimalistic system with buildin GP support to run GP projects very easy as a kind of embedded application.

I think this sounds nice. When will the first version be finished? I'm interested in a 32bit version for my Intel-HDMI-Stick. I would also be pleased about native support for the GPIO touchscreen displays of the Raspberry Pi.

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Jul 21st, '18, 09:33
by MSandro
Picochilla wrote:
Jul 20th, '18, 19:32
If I understand right correctly, MSandro tries to build a linux installer to install a minimalistic system with buildin GP support to run GP projects very easy as a kind of embedded application.

I think this sounds nice. When will the first version be finished? I'm interested in a 32bit version for my Intel-HDMI-Stick. I would also be pleased about native support for the GPIO touchscreen displays of the Raspberry Pi.
Right. Here is how it should work in v0.1:
1. System starts (about 3 seconds in my VM)
2. GP project is loaded from the SFTP folder
3. GP project appears in fullscreen on the screen

The system allows you to boot to your GP project in a maximum of 10 seconds.

What I want to implement until I'll release v0.1:
> some keyboard shortcuts for debugging
° reload project
° enter console
> some shell commands / scripts for debugging via SSH:
° reload project
° ...

What would be better - loading the porjects from the gpp file or execute a compiled/exported project? I think gpp files would be better because to export linux-executibles the user needs to export his project on a linux syste, The advantage of executable files would be that you could use any modified versions of GP. To use gpp and allow modified gp libraries I have to share the lib folder too.


I think I would be able to release v0.1 32bit in the next two weeks. Raspberry Pi touchscreen displays: not sure if this is posible but I'll try.

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Jul 22nd, '18, 21:24
by JohnM
This is really cool! I love the idea of "booting into GP".

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Aug 3rd, '18, 23:06
by MSandro
I am glad that there is some interest in this.

I am now pretty much done with the construction of the system. The last major hurdle is to create a customized GP version that is tailored to the system. I will make my already existing GP mod (GPower) The standard for the system. The setting function in GPower will be very useful for the system. I will expand the settings around a project path and the already implemented app mode (which was actually only usable for exported apps). I will not be able to deliver various debugging tools until version 0.2.

I am not sure when exactly 0.1 will be ready. But I hope next weeks.

Re: BootToGP - minimal Linux to run a GP project as embeded app?

Posted: Aug 16th, '18, 12:30
by MSandro
I've now released the first Beta v001 on Github, you can find the link in the main post of this topic. I was not able to build a ARM edition, but I will try it again for v002. But 32 bit edition works fine on 32 and 64 bit PCs with AMD and Intel CPUs.