robstr12 0 Posted January 5, 2005 Someone gave me a printer... http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Canon-LBP-460 and, its a paperweight. I figure that if I work at it a little every day, I can learn the basics of C programming in one year. Then, maybe I can tackle the challenge of writing a device driver for this printer. Is that a ridiculous thought? C is the language that all this kind of stuff is written in, correct? If other people can do it, why not I? Share this post Link to post
Dapper Dan 0 Posted January 5, 2005 I admire your ambition. I can't see any reason why you couldn't accomplish it if you really set your mind to it. I wouldn't have the patience for such an undertaking. I have a few paperweights around here too, though, we call them, "boat anchors." I've got a nice Visioneer scanner, a piece of crap Epson printer,(a brand I will never buy again even if they threw all their support behind Linux) about 12 winmodems, which sometimes I actually do use as paperweights!), and various bits and pieces that won't work with Linux. Someone has to write the modules for hardware. I say go for it if it really interest you! Share this post Link to post
robstr12 0 Posted January 5, 2005 Well, If there's a will, there's a way. I can devote the time to it. We'll just see, then. If I ever get one to work, hehe, I'll post about it here, DD!!! Share this post Link to post
iamroot 0 Posted January 5, 2005 Best of luck! Great drive u got there. I'm struggling like hell with C and C++ now but the result will be all worth it. Share this post Link to post
egorgry 0 Posted January 5, 2005 Pick up writting linux device drivers by oreily. I had this book and it was just beyond teh scope of what I do. between my real job and a life I couldn't pull it off. good book tho. btw, You're a better man than me. Share this post Link to post
robstr12 0 Posted January 6, 2005 hehe... Well, thanks you guys... but I'm a slight bit away from actually doing it yet. Right now I'm reading and working through Practical C, an O'Reilly book. I figure that I will keep at it... and then get that O'Reilly book about the device drivers. It may take me years, but, if I do succeed in pulling it off, I would have something to put on my tombstone, I guess. Share this post Link to post
BSchindler 0 Posted February 9, 2005 I can suggest another very good book for learning about linux and concepts. "Beginning Linux Programming" by Richard Stones and Neil Matthew. Published by Wrox ISBN: 1-861002-97-1. I have been writing C and running various flavors of Unix/Linux for nearly 20 years. I still pick up this book when I cannot remember some silly thing. The book has a good beginner's section on device drivers as well. I have given this book as a gift to new Linux users who aspire to really learn how to write "work" code for this platform. It has been a great success. One of the best things about the book is that it has plenty of examples which you can actually run on your machine. Good luck with learning C! Share this post Link to post
