Thoughts about software development and Nokia 770
This morning I read a post by michaelalanjones from internettablettalk.com and I have to say he has got a point in what he is saying. Some people are complaining about lack of software for Nokia 770 and are almost demanding something to be developed. This is something that causes dislike among open source communities. This is not how it should be.
A device like Nokia 770 is still, even though it is relatively popular, a sort of a geek gadget. There is no big companies developing software for it, like for example for some Windows based PDAs. The whole approach with this device is different. It is very hard for a totally new device to get software developed for it. But the approach that Nokia has chosen with the Nokia 770 could not be better.
Since it is based on standard Linux operating system, application development for it is very easy. It does not require very much effort to port some existing Linux Gtk application on it, as we have already seen. But as michaelalanjones mentioned, people should remember that free software is usually developed as a hobby. If someone wants some sort of application developed, they should contribute somehow to the community. There are plenty of ways contributing and it always does not even require coding skills. People can help with for example documentation, testing and reporting bugs etc.
One reason why I started to blog about coding for Nokia 770 with Python was exactly this. People want some specific applications and with Python it is relatively easy to develop something and it is relatively easy to learn. Still, it requires quite a lot of time and effort to develop actually usefull software so that is something that the people who use the free software should understand. Someone has sacrificed their personal time to develop the software.
Ok, enough preaching for today. Go on people and contribute to the open software community. If you give something, you are more likely also to get something you want.
February 6th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I could not agree more, it also takes time. I have just spent the last week downloading 900 plus megabytes through a 56k dial connection just so I can develop for it. Now I have a true Maemo development enviroment. I have already wrote several applications just using the device itself while waiting for my downloads. In a just a few days with PyMaemo I have wrote a program to batch send test labels to the thermal printers I maintain at work. I have also most finished a system info application. As far as the device, it has been very stable so far and I have been very pleased with it.
February 8th, 2006 at 2:29 am
I have to say that I agree with your approach. I too believe the real development will come out of the type of series you are starting, enabling people to build a GUI app using python. OK, maybe that’s not for the type of applications people were carping about. But I’m following your series because I know with python even I can build something.
Btw, this is a thanks for starting the series. I’ve been reluctant to leave ruby (which I’ve learned a little about) for python, but the tools and the device are here, so I’m following you all the way.
Roger