Date : Sat, 23 Jan 2016 18:52:54 +0000
From : beeb@... (Dr. David Alan Gilbert)
Subject: 5 minutes of your time please
* John (blip@...) wrote:
>
>
> No - it's not your cash I am after (although if you have some spare...)
>
>
> I'm debating the wisdom of writing a diagnostic application in Java for
> cross platform compatibility, primarily aimed at fixing BBC B computers.
What makes it specific to BBC B ? I guess this type of thing is similar to
most diagnostic applications; i.e. walking the user through a flow chart
with various bits of graphics/sounds/etc - so I don't think the application
should be specific to fixing a BBC B - unless I'm missing something.
> This would be for my degree project, and it has to tick a lot of boxes, as
> well as having clearly defined goals. Also I have to base it around an
> interactive design module, so it's not just a case of googling and pinching
> all your best ideas J .
>
>
>
> So, given all the wealth of experience on this list, including the academic
> world, can I ask you three questions:
>
>
>
> 1. Does this sound as though it has enough content to fulfil a
> university quality research project, with a practical computing component.
I'm not sure where the research comes in here; but for an undergrad it might
be reasonable, but it's a long time since I did mine!
> 2. Has this already been done in such a way that I would not be adding
> anything new enough for a project? (as an application not a website).
Why is an application any different from a website? There shouldn't necessarily
be a distinction; if there is then you're probably doing something wrong.
> 3. Would you assist me by looking at the general ideas (NOT looking
> for your solutions, that would be plagiarism) and volunteering your
> suggestions for 'best path diagnostics'?
Check the service manual; http://chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/docs/Acorn/Manuals/Acorn_BBCSMOct85_Sec1.pdf
section 6 has a bit on fault-finding (although that was written before
the machines had been out there for 30 years!).
Dave
>
>
>
> Happy to take this off list if you consider if off-topic, but I've had this
> idea for a long time, and be interesting to pool together all the
> considerable knowledge floating around out there. I will [have to actually!]
> acknowledge all sources/assistance.
>
>
>
> Also, if you are feeling really generous with your time, I'd welcome your
> thoughts on how it might work. Again, I'm keen to do something new using
> interactive principles, so that could be a touch interface for example,
> and/or feature sound samples of faulty start-up sounds. I'd do the hard work
> of assessing it under the I.D. guidelines.
>
>
>
> After marking the intention would be to publish anything completed under the
> appropriate public/open license, as many contributors do already.
>
>
>
> Thanks for your time and reading.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> John T.
>
>
>
> PS I know little of electronics or programming, but can write simple Java.
>
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> bbc-micro@...
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--
-----Open up your eyes, open up your mind, open up your code -------
/ Dr. David Alan Gilbert | Running GNU/Linux | Happy \
\ dave @ treblig.org | | In Hex /
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