[Gta04-owner] [SPAM] Re: GTA04A4 Group Tour - next steps

[Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller]

Hi Neil,

Am 08.04.2012 um 19:27 schrieb Neil Jerram:

> "Dr. H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns at goldelico.com> writes:
> 
>> Currently we preinstall the hw-testing image since we need
>> it anyways. So the device boots a preconfigured Debian/LXDE.
>> 
>> So my dream would be that you just add the qtmoko repositories
>> (or they are even preconfigured) and you do a
>> 
>> 	apt-get remove lxde && apt-get install qtmoko
>> 
>> to switch.
>> 
>> This partially works, but is far from optimally solved. The reason
>> is that the hw-validation is still on the 2.6.32 kernel and QtMoko
>> makes many assumptions about the kernel and consequently
>> comes with its own kernel.
>> 
>> But for hw-testing the 3.2-kernel is lacking some features.
>> 
>> So it is still some work and time until we can do the full hw-testing on
>> a mainline kernel and QtMoko is "just" a set of user space
>> packages that can be installed or removed...
> 
> Clearly, porting the hw-testing features that you need forward to 3.x is
> something that you might devote time to...

Yes, time is the most critical factor... On one hand the hw-testing kernel
simply works, i.e. it can be used without spending more time. So if
there is no spare time, it will simply be used :)

On the other hand it would be nice to participate in the latest kernel
developments (e.g. suspend) and fix the missing drivers (e.g. camera).

And it could help to have an "official" kernel repository (until it is 100%
supported by kernel.org) that is kept in sync with any hardware
developments (e.g. we may have to change some obsolete chips for
another batch).

> With that in mind, I can't help wondering how you as a company see your
> options at this point.  Obviously you still have to manage the
> production of the group tour boards, but assuming that that leaves you
> with some uncommitted time,

Generally our strength is developing hardware and having it
produced. And especially the GTA04-custom variant allows to
extend into new form factors with different displays. This is what
we are currently working on.

Another area is to finally produce complete devices, i.e. finish
the missing parts of the CaseKit. The most challenging thing is
a new UMTS antenna. The second challenge is to help to
improve the 3D printed case idea.

> - would you consider more kernel work, or polishing any other critical
>  parts of the software stack?

Unfortunately this is currently not our strength (less from knowledge but from
capacity and focus) but I think about hiring some part-time freelancers
to actively work on kernel and GUI stacks. So that we finally can ship
devices with polished software.

> 
> - do you have other projects that you can work on separately from GTA04
>  (which might be sensible while the community polishes the software a
>  bit more)?
> 
> It's a bit cheeky of me to ask, but if you're willing to share your
> thoughts I'd be interested to hear them.

Why not :)

Regards,
Nikolaus