This page explains how to image your OLPC XO if you have hosed it up somehow.
I’ve followed the steps and it works like a charm.
If you instead only want to upgrade your system to a newer release, you should follow the steps here.
Managing files in the OLPC XO datastore
The only official way to get files in and out of the datastore is to drag and drop a single file at a time, and this only works on USB thumbdrives, not on the filesystem.
There is ticket for a workaround using a Python script; if you use an XO, please offer encouragement to get this functionality integrated with the XO.
Here is the ticket.
OLPC XO Answers about hardware
The OLPC XO Wiki has a questions and answers page. Today I took look at the hardware page and found a few important bits:
- JFFS2 compresses your data, performs wear leveling, and manages bad blocks so you don’t need to worry about the fact you are writing to flash.
- USB “thumbdrives” should be formatted to FAT32.
- Although the CPU supports sleep mode, and the hardware detects the the lid closing, the XO will not automatically enter sleep mode on lid closing until some time next year.
- The XO can remain plugged in constantly; the battery will not get overcharged.
CUFP 07 Write-Up now available
A write-up on the Commercial Users of Functional Programming 07 conference is now available here.
It is definitely worth a read for folks who wonder about the “real world” problems that are solved using functional programming. There is a nice mix of both languages and problem domains, and the tone is pretty laid back.
Rubys Upto in a Scheme macro
For a lot of folks, Ruby has a syntax that is really irresistible. Iteration is one of the things in particular that is described as being quite simply, fun. Here is how it works:
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Code Generation and DSLs in Scheme
Over the years, I have heard some pretty outrageous and tantalizing claims made about the programming language Lisp. For example, “It will change you, forever.” and “You write code that writes code.”. Sadly, no further explanation is ever provided. Perhaps it is impossible to capture the essence of that to which these statements allude? This air of mystery around Lisp is both a blessing and a curse. Some folks will find this aura repugnant; others magical. For me, it was the latter. I wanted in on the secret!
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OLPC XO next to a Psion Netbook
Compare an OLPC XO to a Psion Netbook
Unboxing the OLPC XO
Ever wondered how the OLPC XO looks right out of the box?
UML Surrealism
Remember the classic UML “sailboat” book Applying UML and Patterns?
It has kind of a neat image on the cover of a picture of a sailboat, a uml diagram of a sailboat, along with the words “This is not a sailboat”.
(Click on the image to zoom in):
Amazon link
Never noticed before, but I bet it is a tip of the hat to this:
Wikipedia link
Fun read on the evolution of C++
Last June I read “The Evolution of C++”. I was pleasantly surprised by just how fun it was to read. If you’ve ever read Bjarne Stroustrup before you know that he has got a sense of humor and frankness that makes his work quite accessible and informative.
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