Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[benny7440]

I've been thinking for a long time to do some basic-general programming but never got to choose a language. I think I made my decision for this coming year: C it'll be!

I'll need some refreshing sites/tutorials/examples, I'm confident that I won't have any problem with the above but, I must make my decision as to what I'm going to use, that's all done.

I'm pretty sure that I'll do it from a Puppy. FOA, I don't have Windows (any). I don't know what use might have for me, but I've been looking at a "Visual C++ 6" book sitting near by but have not opened it, yet. Maybe next year.

I wish you all a much better 2012 & thanks for your work in the forum (both, simple users making questions & moderators & maintainers/developers)!

[8-bit]

First and foremost, you need to have devx for the version of Puppy you are running loaded. It contains the compilers and supporting library files needed for compiling programs.
Normally one uses Geany, the text editor to write the C programs and it can be set up to compile and run a program without ever leaving it.
If you are going to try your hand at compiling any drivers for Puppy you also need the kernel source file for compatability reasons.

I had did very little in C programming and have restricted myself to writing program scripts for use with gtkdialog. You would be surprised what you can accomplish with it.
As an example, PBurn in Puppy is a collection of gtkdialog scripts and it looks very professional.

My main offering to the Puppy world was a graphical front end to a utility that would format a USB floppy disk and make it dos compatable.

A lot of programs in Puppy are gtkdialog scripts and examining them gives you insight into what can be done and how it was done.

There are a lot of C tutorials on the web so I am not going to go there.

[benny7440]

Thanks, 8-bit, for responding!

I'll check that later on, after returning from the gas station.

[Lobster]

See appendix 1-4
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/Compiling

Example of available tutorial
http://www.cprogramming.com/tutorial.html

Good luck

[benny7440]

Thanks for responding Lobster!

I'm downloading right now the devx file but it's too late here now at 12:01 am (amidst a sample of the Gulf War "scenario"). Too tire for continuing with this. Installing & using this isn't an everyday thing for me.

I'll post below, later with the outcome of it...

[benny7440]

I checked the md5 sum & it was ok. I also decided to move the sfs file to the 511 folder, instead.

Now, I'm afraid it'll bring difficulties for having moved it to a previous puppy version: am I right on this?

I have not done anything with it except to do as the instructions read said: go to Menu > System > BootManager for "enabling" that sfs file to be loaded at boot time but received a message that suggested it was the wrong version/code-signature or something like that. I also increased the personal storage size (thank God I didn't used all available space on the partition --in case I need to move the sfs file back to where it's supposed to be, originally).

As far as you (I mean, any of you) know, is it advisable at this point to move the sfs file back to the 528 folder before trying to use the package?

Thanks!

PS. I've various puppies in here: 511, 525 & 528; also Wary 512 (if I'm not wrong) & Puppy Studio. At first I thought that it was better to use the latest puppy with this, but now I'm not so sure. Do you agree that 528 it should be? For this puppy was the d/l sfs file chosen.

Edition: In the examples I've read so far I should unpack & install something, with respect to this .SFS file I think there's no readme file within it nor any installations to be made: am I right? I just have to move it to the right place & tell the Boot Manager to load it at bootup: correct?

[RetroTechGuy]

[benny7440]

Thanks for responding, RetroTechGuy!

All the previous posts were made from 511 but now I'm running 528 with the devx pack. moved back to it prior to rebooting. Cannot test it rightaway but maybe late at night might have a chance or tomorrow.

Went to a Tutorial page but didn't find a suitable ex. for testing: "Hello world!". Have to try harder.

Also, it confused me a little to read there about the gcc libraries. I made a search for 'gcc' from 528 & it appeared that I'm able to do something with the included libs but don't know it yet.

[RetroTechGuy]

[benny7440]

As probably said above, I moved the sfs file to the 528 folder where it's located the personal storage file, also the little script "Hello World!" is located there. Now what?

Don't know how to compile it. I'm trying the ROXTerm as my terminal console for the Ist time. Used NicoEdit to write the script (with the C language preference chosen).

Have read some tutorials (overview) for C programming/compiling but the info isn't enough.

Also, within that console, wrote gcc to see what happenned but the outcome is: "command not found", the same with devx or devx_528-4. I even can't find a way to change the directory. Don't find/know the login id nor pwd for this puppy, in case this's what's needed to permit me to do something.

Any tips?

Edit: Is there a manual/help for the devx compiler?

[RetroTechGuy]

[technosaurus]

first, check out pet packaging 101 (see my signature)

the best resource I have found is:
http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/C/

if you are wanting to write GUI programs in C, I recently posted glade and glade-2 (the ones that write the actual C)
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=74882

if you get stuck - google the command(s) with its required include file(s) like #include <stdio.h> or whatever (to filter out garbage)

[benny7440]

Thanks, RetroTechGuy, for responding!

I don't remember having read that I had to mount the file prior to rebooting the machine: I did left-click the SFS file right now (I also closed the window that opened when it was mounted after trying to find a readme file somewhere: didn't find any). Now, I'm about to re-read your post & the next one &, then, I'm rebooting. After that I'm going to perform that gcc & cc checks. After that, if the system responds as I need I'll post it, if it doesn't I'll remount the SFS file, leave that window opened & reboot; after this I'll repeat the tests & post here below.

Thanks technosaurus for your links & advise!

I'll check the links provided as well as your signature-embedded info after trying the previous poster' tips &, if there I find issues I will post any question below.

[benny7440]

After remounting the SFS file & not closing the corresponding window & rebooting I opened a terminal & typed gcc, cc & devx & all gave me the corresponding "command not found" message. Then, I went to the Menu to see if there was an entry for the package & found something in: Menu > Setup > Setup Puupy (SFS - Load on-the-fly). I clicked on that & a window opened (SFS-Load). There, I selected the devx package & a new selection window appeared with the following for choosing:
1) Glade Interface Designer
2) Python (v2.6)
3) Sysprof Profiler
4) Valide

Now I don't know what to choose, if any. I've opened a terminal & both, gcc & cc gave me a "no input file" message (good, I think). When tried the devx a "command not found" message was given (is it good or bad?).

I'll post this & will leave that selection window opened for a while awaiting instructions as to what to do next.

Thanks!

[RetroTechGuy]