:S
F I N A L L Y ! someone understands my actual question !
My last job, before retiring, included designing very high-end wireless comms for a major aerospace/defense contractor. I know networking. I know wireless. I did not ask about how to get my cnc machine's PC connected. I was interested (since I am "Linux-stupid") how to do things with a USB stick. Until BigJohnT's last post here nobody gave me even a hint about that.
Thanks BigJohnT !!!
It is my observation that many so called "open" software forums are largely populated by so called gurus (although I don't like that term, people know who it means) and more often those experts reply to posts. Not all, but some posts are pleas for help from non-experts or noobies. I may be dead wrong (but I don't think so) but I suspect that what is seen on this forum is the tip of the ice-burg of people using LinuxCNC and many people would rather give up or lurk without posting or beat their heads against a brick (Linux/O.S./CNC technology) wall than to interject what they feel would surely be a trivial question into a pack of experts, making themselves look stupid.
I know that these open software forums are good places for people already a good way up the steep and slippery learning curves to communicate about technical details. That's great. Kudos to them for that. But open software is not "open" if there are barriers to new blood becoming involved. I know, beyond a certain critical mass an informal organization can achieve a modicum of positive entropy to survive and perhaps fool themselves into calling it a success. People survive cancer in remission for decades and call that "success" too. And kudos to them too, that's great. But it is not as good has being fully healthy.
The "big" players in CNC, the commercial OEMs of equipment, and the commercial shops are in positions to be able to afford the hardware and software they need because it is business. Yeah, I know there are commercial businesses using LinuxCNC but they have choices. Looking at the truth and technology behind Moore's Law would suggest that LinuxCNC will be continuing to loose ground in the coming years. Nevertheless, it is useful. But I know for a fact that LinuxCNC is loosing market share to competition from small companies.
This will be my last post here. I'll go back to lurking in the shadows. I've learned to go elsewhere for answers. I'll get my CNC router back up and running. I'll survive since I'm just one old retired guy with a CNC router in his garage.
Is this what the LinuxCNC organization wants? To alienate potential noobies? To swamp-out possibly smart people who, if nurtured could one day be contributors? To covet "open" software for an elite few? That's absolutely what it looks like from my POV. But at this point I'm not sure of the intentions of this organization; and that is both bad and sad. It should be crystal clear! Whatever happened to Adobe ActionScript? At one time it was 'king-of-the-hill' in it's field. It's gone now.The "C" (programming language) has been around since 1972 ( I took my first Fortran course in 1971). The x86 hardware architecture was started in 1978 and it's descendants are still with us today. There are reasons why some things are successful and others are not. History provides free ("open") lessons for open-minded people.
I would strongly urge the people in charge of the LinuxCNC organization and this forum to consider it's present existence and future wisely. I hope you would consider the organization of
forum.linuxcnc.org/forum/index
such that noobies would feel more welcome and to participate. Ditto for the
www.linuxcnc.org/
front page. Or at least come right out and say that it's just for the gurus and don't waste our time.
