[xotoaster:11] Toaster Proposal & Approval

[Grant Bowman]

I'm sending this out as a sort of breadcrumb trail for anyone who
might want to apply as Contributors as we have now done successfully.
Here is the proposal I sent out with a few contact details omitted,
the reply I got in response and a link to the IRC log where this
project was approved!

I should get three laptops shipped to me in the next few weeks to
support our efforts.

I was amazed to start poking around on a laptop in /usr/share/sugar/
and see how well laid out the python code is. I know I'll be climbing
quite a learning curve as I get this Activity developed. I welcome
any and all participation. If you can, perhaps the best place to
discuss this project is in IRC in the #sugar IRC channel on
http://freenode.net as recommended on this wiki page.
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Internet_Relay_Chat If anyone needs a
hand getting IRC setup just let me know.

I'm excited to get this going!

Cheers,

Grant


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Grant
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Subject: Toaster Activity & OLPC-SF Proposal
To: contri...@laptop.org
Cc: Alex , Sameer


This submission is in response to
http://blog.laptop.org/2010/02/25/xo-1-5-early-production-laptops-free-to-contributors-worldwide/
and
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Contributors_program/Project_proposal_form

1. Project Title & Shipment Detail
Name of Project: Toaster - http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Toaster

Shipping Address You've Verified:
[Grant's address & phone number]

Number of Laptops (or other hardware) You Request to Borrow:
3 x XO 1.5 machines (one for each of three developers)
Loan Length in Months: 12 months

2. Team Participants
Name(s) & Contact Info: (include all email addresses & phone numbers)
[Grant's email & phone number]
[Alex's email & phone number]
[Sameer's email & phone number]

Employer and/or School: OLPC-SF group

Grant's Past Experience/Qualifications:

       OLPC-SF participation for 1.5 years
       Ubuntu Member, Fedora Ambassador
       python programming experience on Supybot
       SuSE employee 1999-2001
       open source contributions since 1996

3. Objectives
Project Objectives: http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Toaster

This activity is intended to do two things:
  1. Create USB sticks (such as Sugar on a Stick)
  2. Create a CD or DVD disc from an .iso image if the necessary
hardware is available

The goal is to allow any XO user or anyone walking up to an XO in book mode to
select and create a bootable USB stick or disc.

For CD burning this amounts to a simple graphical interface to this
command line:

sudo wodim dev=3D/dev/sdrw -tao driveropts=3Dburnfree -v -data
~/toaster/soas-2-blueberry.iso speed=16

Testing will prove that toaster is useful for ~/toaster/soas-2-boot.iso and
other .iso images of Linux distributions and open source software CDs such
as Software Freedom Day. http://softwarefreedomday.org

4. Plan of Action
Plan and Procedure for Achieving the Stated Objectives:

Develop, test & support deployment of this activity with weekly IRC meetings.
Demonstrate and share development experience with others of the OLPC-SF user
group, sugarlabs and OLPC communities on mail lists and IRC channels,
connecting with the deployments in the field when the software is ready.  Test
as broadly as possible with all hardware and software "builds" to streamlline
the UI and error checking built into the activity, making the use of this
activity as simple as possible for end users.

5. Needs

Why is this project needed?   Toaster enables the XO to replicate itself,
spread other open source software images and demonstrate that the hardware is a
capable platform in tangible ways oustide of a sugar-focused curriculum.

Locally?  I have used my own XO to create CDs with a USB burner using the above
command line.  People that saw this at SFSU at Software Freedom Day 2009 were
unusually impressed.  The toaster activity (with testing) will make creating
CDs and USB sticks easier to create and a useful UI for self-service choice of
software.

In the greater OLPC/Sugar community?   The OLPC community should not
have to rely on other computers to create USB sticks and CD-ROMs.

Outside the community?       Using the XO as a demonstration platform shows off
the capabilities of the hardware platform.  The Toaster software will help with
tangible demonstrations and might be an excellent first introduction to the
hardware.  Depending on the environment, it could demonstrate the outdoor
readability and DIY self-service capability in a kiosk mode in line with open
source philosophy, providing simple tools to enable a self-hosting and
replicating platform.

Why can't this project be done in emulation
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Emulating_the_XO using non-XO machines?  The Toaster
activity can and should be tested in software emulated environments as well as
actual hardware.  One key to success is to test with as many USB configurations
as possible, including the target hardware platform USB controller chips which
are difficult or impossible to emulate.

Why are you requesting the number of machines you are asking for?
Compatibility testing one per developer allows trying out different software
images in addition to our own XO 1.0 hardware devices purchased through G1G1
and E-Bay.  Testing with USB hardware controllers and as many USB devices and
sticks as possible is important.  My experiences with software emulation have
been quite frustrating as there is a bug in the Xephyr software emulation
chosen in the Ubuntu packages that triggers complex x.org bugs.  Newer packages
and the https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-sugarteam efforts
should help solve these issues.

Will you consider (1) salvaged/rebuilt or (2) damaged XO Laptops?  Yes, with
the help of the OLPC-SF repair center.

6. Sharing Deliverables
Project URL where you'll report specific ongoing progress:
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Toaster

Code is at http://git.sugarlabs.org/projects/toaster

Mail list is at http://groups.google.com/group/xotoaster/

How will you convey tentative ideas & results back to the OLPC/Sugar community,
prior to completion?  Continued work with the OLPC-SF group and the seven
related deployments.  I will look into other forms of communication that are in
common use, perhaps regular email.

How will the final fruits of your labor be distributed to children or
community members worldwide?  http://activities.sugarlabs.org

Will your work have any possible application or use outside our community?
Toaster will allow demos of screen readability and self-service USB stick &
CD-ROM creation.  USB sticks can be used by students and adults without
requiring the XO hardware.

If yes, how will these people be reached? http://activities.sugarlabs.org and
word of mouth, on the mail list http://groups.google.com/group/xotoaster/ ,
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Projects announcement, my blog
http://grantbow.wordpress.com/ , http://twitter.com/grantbow twitter and
http://www.facebook.com/grantbow facebook status updates.  Perhaps a linkedin
announcement on the olpc group http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=3D41936 after
the code is quite stable.

Have you investigated working with nearby XO Lending Libraries or
Project Groups?  Yes, I have been active with the OLPC-SF group for
about a year and a half which has a lending library at SFSU.

7. Quality/Mentoring

Would your Project benefit from Support, Documentation and/or Testing people?
Yes, this will be critical to test in as many different environments and
software configurations as possible.  Reports from users and bugs will make the
Activity stronger and more robust for other users across various XO image
versions.

Teachers' input into Usability? Yes, definately, the goal is to make the
experience as trouble free as possible for less technical users. Initially more
experienced users will help to adapt the software to various needs.

How will you promote your work? http://activities.sugarlabs.org site & mail
list http://groups.google.com/group/xotoaster/

Can we help you with an experienced mentor from the OLPC/Sugar community? I
would like development assistance and advise on making the Toaster Activity
with cdrecord/wodim binaries compatible across as many deployed XO images as
possible, including robust installation and uninstallation scripts.  I would
also like help promoting the activity to existing deployments that might
benefit from SOAS USB sticks & demo CDs created during trade shows or other
open source related events using an XO in book mode.

8. Timeline (Start to Finish)

Please include a Proposed timeline for your Project life-cycle:

Month 1 - continue learning about python sugar environment and packaging
systems.  Learn more from past efforts to provide similar functionality as
linked from our project page.  Continue discussions on #ubuntu-sugarteam

http://groups.google.com/group/xotoaster/browse_thread/thread/54a6cc05a5e73d30

Month 3 - produce a minimum UI to replicate command line features for
CD burning and baseline USB Stick functionality
Months 4-5 - Test, test, test, adapt to different XO images.
Month 6 - Announce and gather further feedback.
Month 9 - collect feedback and incorporate into bug fixes and new
feature plans.
Month 12 - support, gather feedback, develop & fix, iterate.

Specify how you prefer to communicate your ongoing progress and obstacles:
presentations to OLPC-SF group with summaries written to our mail list, IRC
channels - additional recommended communications as recommended.

[X] I agree to pass on the laptop(s) to a local OLPC group or other
interested contributors in case I do not have need for the laptop(s)
anymore or in case my project progress stalls.







---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <contri...@laptop.org>
Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Subject: [laptop.org #61094] AutoReply: Toaster Activity & OLPC-SF Proposal
To: gran...@gmail.com


Thank You for submitting a hardware request to One Laptop per Child's:

 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Contributors_program

If this is a new submission, your Project Number is: #61094
Keep your Project Number in the Subject Line of future emails!

Tips for accelerating hardware approval:

* Make sure you pasted this form into an email and answered ALL questions:
 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Contributors_program/Project_proposal_form

* Activate your Project or Library web site, eg:
 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Projects/MY_BETTER_MOUSETRAP_PROJECT_TITLE

* Set up a hyperlink from our "Science Fair" showcase:
 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Projects

* BRING AN ADVOCATE for your project to our Friday online community meeting:
 http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Contributors_program/meetings (2PM Eastern Time!)

Your Project will undergo Community Review to clarify goals and
hardware needs.  Usually, upon approval, your hardware will be shipped
in a few weeks.

Thanks for Contributing!!
OLPC Community Volunteers




---------- APPROVAL ----------

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Contributors_program/April_16,_2010

Toaster was the first of four projects discussed on Friday at the
regular meeting. Attached is the excerpt from the IRC meeting log
file.

[ PROJECT #1 - Toaster Activity & OLPC-SF - San Francisco, California ]

<CanoeBerry> Thanks all for critiquing/mentoring/voting for Project #1
of 4 here:
<CanoeBerry> Toaster Activity & OLPC-SF - San Francisco, California
<CanoeBerry> http://rt.laptop.org/Ticket/Display.html?id=61094
<CanoeBerry> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Toaster
<CanoeBerry> [SPECIFIC SITE NEEDS TO BE POSTED OFF
<CanoeBerry> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Projects ]
<CanoeBerry> Requests 3 XO-1.5s over 12 months
<CanoeBerry> Project Objectives:
<CanoeBerry> This activity is intended to do two things:
<CanoeBerry> 1. Create USB sticks (such as Sugar on a Stick)
<CanoeBerry> 2. Create a CD or DVD disc from an .iso image if the necessary
<CanoeBerry> hardware is available
<CanoeBerry> The goal is to allow any XO user or anyone walking up to an XO in
<CanoeBerry> book mode to
<CanoeBerry> select and create a bootable USB stick or disc.
<CanoeBerry> For CD burning this amounts to a simple graphical
interface to this
<CanoeBerry> command line:
<CanoeBerry> sudo wodim dev=3D/dev/sdrw -tao driveropts=3Dburnfree -v -data
<CanoeBerry> ~/toaster/soas-2-blueberry.iso speed=16
<CanoeBerry> Testing will prove that toaster is useful for
<CanoeBerry> ~/toaster/soas-2-boot.iso and
<CanoeBerry> other .iso images of Linux distributions and open
source software CDs
<CanoeBerry> such
<CanoeBerry> as Software Freedom Day. http://softwarefreedomday.org
* ndoiron has joined #olpc-meeting
<CanoeBerry> Page says "This activity is not yet functional.
Developers are needed." :-)
<CanoeBerry> Sorry sverma was here earlier.. maybe he'll return to
explain, if these are his students??
<CanoeBerry> Opinions anybody?
* Bronze-Green-83 has joined #olpc-meeting
<CanoeBerry> Let's see if Sameer of others in Northern Calif can join.
<CanoeBerry> Bronze-Green-83: welcome
<CanoeBerry> Are you advocating for any of today's 4 projects?
<CanoeBerry> We're just getting started w/ Project #1 now..
* culseg has joined #olpc-meeting
<CanoeBerry> culseg: welcome :)
<CanoeBerry> We need comments on Project #1
<culseg> I already wrote in ticket support so for sure +1
<CanoeBerry> Right!
<CanoeBerry> Thanks for the reminder..
<CanoeBerry> No answer from Sameer in SF -- let's carry on.
<culseg> I'm slow but not toast yet
<CanoeBerry> Can others please voice votes of support or objections
around "Toaster Activity" ?
<culseg> why wait for Sameer...isn't it approvable
<ndoiron> I don't know much about SoaS but it sounds useful +1
<CanoeBerry> Calling once..
<CanoeBerry> Calling twice..
<CanoeBerry> Calling thrice..
<CanoeBerry> APPROVED

[akle...@sonic.net]

I'm hoping to get to the meeting a bit early, perhaps as early as 5pm. If
you are planning to bring an XO perhaps you could show me some of the code
you are talking about.

Does it have to be an XO1.5 that we work on or can one contribute using an
XO1.0? I'll get my hands on one of ours asap but may need some hand
holding to get started.

I'm back to work now so my time isn't totally my own.

[Grant Bowman]

Good questions, actually!

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 8:14 AM, <akle...@sonic.net> wrote:
> I'm hoping to get to the meeting a bit early, perhaps as early as 5pm. If
> you are planning to bring an XO perhaps you could show me some of the code
> you are talking about.

I'll be there but I have a meeting first so I'm not sure what time.

http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Activities/Toaster is the home page

This "gits" the code:

git clone git://git.sugarlabs.org/toaster/mainline.git

> Does it have to be an XO1.5 that we work on or can one contribute using an
> XO1.0? I'll get my hands on one of ours asap but may need some hand
> holding to get started.

A key goal and major amount of work is to test not only on XO 1.5 and
XO 1.0 hardware but all the older builds to try to make Toaster as
easy to use as possible for as many people as possible.

Grant


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