my linux skills are ok (recently passed my rhce) but I really suck on the programming end. I am aware that a real linux guru knows shell programming well and needs to know at least one other scripting language...from what I can tell mostly perl, perhaps some python.

Can I assume that bash is available for the n900 along with associated programs (sed awk etc) that are external but would be needed to learn shell scripting? can I further assume that I can download perl and python through apt-get and have a "real" linux computer in my pocket? thanks for listening...I know I cannot do these things on android...I can give up voice navigation for learning the basics on programming on a phone sized device...

I wrote this in python directly on my N900 today as an example for someone else's question using VI.

Bash3 is available in the repositories as well. Sed and Awk are both on my N900 provided by BusyBox.

So: Yes.

thanks that looks cool, I don't understand a word of python. If I am using bash to write a script, can bash use the busy box sed/awk, or do I have to be using busy box as the shell too? also what about perl is that available as well?

Yes; it'll be fine. It will just execute the sed/awk that's in your path which is the BusyBox. You could of course recompile/replace (or just copy the binaries from the SDK or something) to replace the BusyBox with the real deals.. but unless the BusyBox versions are specifically missing an option you want/need there's no reason to.

In fact you can pickup an N900 and start shell scripting right away without even loading the full Bash3 and (most) things will work just fine. Bash will have some specific options that will be lacking in the busybox shell but unless/until you run into those you don't need Bash either.

thanks, seems despite meego coming and some shortcomings I will put myself on the prowl for a cheap n900 used. btw and perl? is that in the repo too?

Yes, perl's available for the N900 as well (though unfortunately a lot of the addon libraries aren't).

Perl is 5.8.3, which is kind of old but readily available in xterm. Python 2.5 is built in but it seems like every app installs extra Python libs so even though I love Perl, Python is probably where I'd start.

While not exactly on topic, I made myself a Roku remote last night with qtirreco - it was kind of fun not to have to buy an app - although I'd probably pay a dollar for one that was prettier. Being able to make something without having to wait for a developer to do it is pretty sweet.

If you like something like TCL, the arm etcl from Evolane that never ran on my Android phone ran fine on the N900. I have some badly modified (by me) games that I originally put together for my Dell Axim and they ran. That's always been my dream, reusable apps on the desktop and pda/phone.

Terry

because of so cool and friendly community, i now have enough knowledge to do partitions in the n900's memory.

Thanks!

That's interesting about Roku, I have one of those.

Another programming language available is Ruby (and irb).

you awesome people are so cool!

i know English and Filipino languages but not C++, java, Ruby or anything else