COMP 3000 2011 Report: KnoSciences - Revision history

NTierney: /* Basic Operation */

2011-12-06T05:16:01Z

Basic Operation

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:16, 6 December 2011
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	The file browser included comes with a full set of interactive buttons for traversing the file system. When inside the file browser you are given many options for the current folder such as change to parent directory, change to home directory, bookmarks menu, Refresh, folder's contents, change icon size, automatic icon size mode, show extra details, change sort criteria, show hidden files, invert file selection and get help.		The file browser included comes with a full set of interactive buttons for traversing the file system. When inside the file browser you are given many options for the current folder such as change to parent directory, change to home directory, bookmarks menu, Refresh, folder's contents, change icon size, automatic icon size mode, show extra details, change sort criteria, show hidden files, invert file selection and get help.

			I chose to try one of each type of educational program that came pre-installed on the operating system. The three categories of programs that came with the computer are chemistry, math and geometry.
			The chemistry program that I tried was Chemtool. This application is used for creating diagrams of molecules for Chemistry. When you enter the program you are given a similar setup as a simple Paint application, except the tools given are more tuned toward chemistry. Most of the tools are for creating lines or bonds between atoms, but you can also enter text.
			The geometry program that I tries was Geomview. This application is used for viewing geometric objects in a 3D space. You are given many tools to translate and rotate the object selected in the view window.

	~~'''Application Testing''' - The following~~ are the ~~applications that I chose to test out to see how they worked in the~~ operating system:		There are two main features on the KnoSciences operating system. The first is automatic hardware detection, which tries to find a driver for any piece of hardware connected to the computer as soon as possible. The second feature is on the fly decompression, which makes it not necessary to install anything. This feature is particularly useful if you just want to test out a program and not have to go through the installation process then just un-inistall it directly afterwards.
	*'''Chemtool''' - This application is ~~used~~ for ~~creating diagrams~~ of ~~molecules for Chemistry. When you enter~~ the ~~program you are given a similar setup~~ as ~~a simple Paint application, except the tools given are more tuned toward chemistry~~. ~~Most of~~ the ~~tools are for creating lines or bonds between atoms~~, ~~but you can also enter text~~.
	*'''Geomview''' - This ~~application~~ is ~~used for viewing geometric objects in~~ a ~~3D space. You are given many tools to translate~~ and ~~rotate the object selected in the view window.~~
	~~'''Features'''~~
	*Automatic hardware detection.
	*It is not ~~necessary~~ to ~~install anything because of on~~ the ~~fly decompression~~.

	== Usage Evaluation ==		== Usage Evaluation ==

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T05:08:23Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:08, 6 December 2011
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	[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]		[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]
			[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]

	When booting up the ~~computer~~, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.		When booting up the operating system, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.

	~~[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]~~

	~~uyt~~		After the operating system was finished loading I was able to check what processes were running. The majority of the processes under the PID of 2000 have to do with the kernel, such as dealing with threads, events, processes, the hardware and of course the initialization daemon init. The majority of processes with a PID of 3000 or greater have to deal with windows and any kind of display for the operating system. The interesting processes are between the ranges of 2000 and 3000. Here I found that the process called /usr/sbin/automount. This process is what defines the KnoSciences operating system. This process will make it so that instead of installing a program from disc, it simply just gives it a large space to mount to so that it is not permanent. This is used for when you just want to test programs out and not necessarily keep them on the computer.

	= References =		= References =
	<references />		<references />

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:49:50Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:49, 6 December 2011
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	== Initialization ==		== Initialization ==
	~~[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]~~

	The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.		The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.
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	#mini-Debian system		#mini-Debian system
	#normal Debian system		#normal Debian system

			[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]

			When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.

	[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]		[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]

	When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.		uyt

	= References =		= References =
	<references />		<references />

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:49:07Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:49, 6 December 2011
Line 202:		Line 202:
	#mini-Debian system		#mini-Debian system
	#normal Debian system		#normal Debian system

			[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]

	When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.		When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.
	~~[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]~~

	= References =		= References =
	<references />		<references />

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:48:53Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:48, 6 December 2011
Line 185:		Line 185:
	== Initialization ==		== Initialization ==
	[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]		[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]

	The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.		The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.
	When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.		When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.
Line 203:		Line 204:

	When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.		When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.
			[[File:KnoSciencesProcesses.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Processes running on Knosciences]]

	= References =		= References =
	<references />		<references />

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:44:45Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:44, 6 December 2011
Line 184:		Line 184:

	== Initialization ==		== Initialization ==
	[[File:~~KnoSciencesBoot~~.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]		[[File:KnosciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]
	The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.		The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.
	When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.		When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:42:37Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:42, 6 December 2011
Line 184:		Line 184:

	== Initialization ==		== Initialization ==
			[[File:KnoSciencesBoot.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Boot output]]
	The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.		The KnoSciences operating system was built upon Debian, so it will have a very similar initialization process as it.
	When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.		When initializing, the scripts in the diretory /etc/rcS.d are executed in alphabetical order.

NTierney: /* Initialization */

2011-12-06T04:36:03Z

Initialization

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:36, 6 December 2011
Line 200:		Line 200:
	#mini-Debian system		#mini-Debian system
	#normal Debian system		#normal Debian system

			When booting up the computer, I took a screenshot of what was being loaded and from that I learned of the general order that programs were initialized in. Since the operating system is meant to be booted from a disk it unloads the compressed image for Knoppix first. After that it runs the Linux Kernel version 2.6.12. Next it searches for devices on the computer which in my case contained ac, battery, button, containtainer, fan, processor, thermal and video. After it is done looking for devices it starts the card manager and then moves on to removable devices that are plugged in through USB and Firewire. At the end of the process is the most interesting part of it all, it starts an Automounter process for the floppy and CD-ROM drive. This is the part that separates itself from other versions of Linux since the main feature of KnoSciences is to make the installation process of programs easier and less permanent. The final stage of the initialization is to boot the window manager X-Window before it hands over control to the user.

	= References =		= References =
	<references />		<references />

NTierney: /* Major Package Versions */

2011-12-06T04:20:50Z

Major Package Versions

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:20, 6 December 2011
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	</tr>		</tr>
	<tr>		<tr>
	<td>~~firefox internet~~ browser</td>		<td>Firefox Internet browser</td>
	<td>mozilla-firefox</td>		<td>mozilla-firefox</td>
	<td>1.0.6</td>		<td>1.0.6</td>

NTierney: /* Usage Evaluation */

2011-12-06T04:20:28Z

Usage Evaluation

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:20, 6 December 2011
Line 58:		Line 58:
	My overall impression that I got in my short time of using the KnoSciences operating system is that I found it to be just what it promised. As soon as you boot it up after installation, you are given a great amount of tools used for education in the Maths and Sciences as well as graphical applications.		My overall impression that I got in my short time of using the KnoSciences operating system is that I found it to be just what it promised. As soon as you boot it up after installation, you are given a great amount of tools used for education in the Maths and Sciences as well as graphical applications.

	KnoSciences also manages to cover the basic necessities of a modern operating system. It gives Network access, file browsing and usage of external devices such as a printer. It already has installed a video player with many formats, a word processor, an ~~internet~~ browser and an image editor.		KnoSciences also manages to cover the basic necessities of a modern operating system. It gives Network access, file browsing and usage of external devices such as a printer. It already has installed a video player with many formats, a word processor, an Internet browser and an image editor.

	=Part II=		=Part II=