A thing to tinker with.

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I was contacted, recently, by an old friend.  The physics grad student who had been a next door neighbor.  A good conversation was started.  It sounds like idealism is being... hmm... handled.  What he thought, for me, passed for cynicism, is being gained.  I would like to say that my cynicism is more practical, and less a command than an understanding... softer but surer than it seems if much better of footing than idealism.  And, I probably tacked these harder for him than how I actually held them, so as to allow no slipping.  Skepticism, however, is just as it seems.  I doubt, strongly, anything that is stated, written, televised, or insinuated, especially if it is guaranteed.  But... that's just that.


The thing I found interesting was a tech toy/tool he recommended, an inexpensive small computer.  No, this won't replace your laptop, certainly not your desktop, and not your gaming rig or console.  What it does offer is an easy path into learning linux and a number programming languages.  The one that interests me the most is C++, but there are other very notable languages offered, almost or literally built right into the system.  It hooks to a monitor or television through hdmi, you need to add a mouse and a keyboard, you have to get an SD or micro SD card for it, and put the system on that drive.  It just seems to be a very good little toy/tool.  Especially if you want to learn programming, but don't even really know how to get the software on your machine, or do it in a way that it's safe for your machine, or affordably.  It's called the Raspberry Pi.

I am currently looking the thing over, reading material on how to set it up, and then tinker with it.  The system itself is only $35, but a case would be good, and perhaps a camera.  Actually, as good as the camera is, a few of these, wired so as not to be hacked, would make an inexpensive security camera system, while teaching how to run wiring and some other things.  Initially, for me, the goal would be to learn linux, then learn C++, then maybe C or another language, then see which languages would be most useful for little programs I might want to create and/or use from others.  I would like to know enough to create some minor programs, and enough to know how to change aspects of programs I might want while having a bit more surety of the security of any program I might want.

It does connect to the internet.  It has a lot of potential for a techy, or techy wannabe.  Just thought I'd put it out there.  With pork and beef, a wheat grinder, and a friend's teeth, in economic mind locally and soon, I am not sure I can fit this into my budget for a few months.  Which will give me time to consider some things, read how-to's, and make sure I have the other parts and pieces I want.  If I like it well enough, and meet some kid that would like to tinker, it would make a perfect gift.  I like encouraging such behavior in the young, difficult as that is these days.  Still... when you see it, encourage.

It would be a perfect toy for a day like yesterday or today.  Something, once going, that could be played with without burning energy.  A way to do something without doing much of anything.