From admin-team at linux.org.au Wed Nov 29 14:26:54 2023 From: admin-team at linux.org.au (Linux Australia Website) Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:26:54 +0000 Subject: [Grants] Grant Application from Russell Coker for RISC-V, smart-watch, and tablet computing development Message-ID: Your Email Address: russell at coker.com.au Project name: RISC-V, smart-watch, and tablet computing development Grant Type: Project Grant Aim of the project: The primary aim is to improve the free software ecosystem for RISC-V and for tablets for Debian, OpenBSD, and maybe NetBSD. One secondary aim is to get the PineTime smart watches talking to the free software ecosystem and exploring new ways of managing notifications from the OS. Another secondary aim is to make further progress on the work from the previous grant. Another secondary aim is to do further investigation of the use of VMs on handheld devices which needs the 16G of RAM in the LicheePad devices. Another secondary aim is to compare RISC-V and ARM and determine how free software can be migrated between CPUs and especially concerning security features. The work done as part of the grant from June 2023 is continuing but we are limited in our ability to do some things due to the PinePhonePro only supporting Bluetooth 5.0 (while the PineTime works better when talking to a device with a newer version of Bluetooth), the lack of Linux software support for low resolution displays, and the inability to make a PinePhonePro a daily driver phone at this time due to problems with reliability and battery life. We want to have fully free software handheld devices usable for most people which is plausible for a Debian tablet in the near future but for a Debian phone even experts will have issues for the next year. Russell and Yifei both own PineTime devices which work well for regular use. But there is a need to have other devices just for development. Estimated cost breakdown of the project: 2 LicheePad4A (not max) tablets that are expected to cost $650 each. PineTime smart watch about $50 PineTime development kit about $50 2*1 year plans for cheap phone service about $100 each Total 2*650+50+50+2*100=$1600 Project team details: Russell and Yifei are currently working on PinePhonePro devices from a previous Linux Australia grant. First Name: Russell Last Name: Coker Email Address: russell at coker.com.au A statement including a willingness to provide regular project updates on the project: We will write regular blog posts and provide as many other updates to the community as people are interested in. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 6566af7e64610.csv Type: text/csv Size: 2344 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jwoithe at just42.net Wed Nov 29 14:34:43 2023 From: jwoithe at just42.net (Jonathan Woithe) Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 14:04:43 +1030 Subject: [Grants] Grant Application from Russell Coker for RISC-V, smart-watch, and tablet computing development In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Russell Thank you for applying for a Linux Australia grant. With its posting to the Linux Australia Grants mailing list[1], the two week community consultation period has opened. During this time Linux Australia members can provide feedback and seek additional information about your application. If you haven't done so already, you are encouraged to join the Grants mailing list[2] to make it easier for you to provide answers to any questions which might be asked. Council will consider the application at its first meeting following the close of the consultation period. Barring unforeseen circumstances this will be on 20 Dec 2023. Jonathan (on behalf of the Linux Australia Council) [1] https://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/grants/ [2] https://lists.linux.org.au/mailman/listinfo/grants From david at davidmwilliams.com Thu Nov 30 21:11:37 2023 From: david at davidmwilliams.com (David M Williams) Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:11:37 +0000 Subject: [Grants] Grant Application from David M Williams for RISC-V hardware Message-ID: First name: David Last name: Williams Your email address: david at davidmwilliams.com Project name: Advancing open-source database support for RISC-V hardware Grant type: Project grant Project team details: David M Williams A statement including a willingness to provide regular project updates on the project: Yes, I will provide regular updates via various online, freely accessible media, and as many other updates as people are interested in. Aim of the project: *** Please excuse any roughness or imprecision in my aim and costings; I am submitting this conscious the deadline for grants approaches, and I hope the concepts expressed here can be refined with the help of the community *** The primary aim is to improve the free software ecosystem for RISC-V around support for open-source database systems. For clarity, this project received inspiration from Russell Coker?s existing work to improve the free software ecosystem around RISC-V. I have discussed my interests with Russell and as our interests were in different areas it didn?t fit well in a single request. However, as there is overlap, we will be exchanging ideas. I trust my proposal does not in any way negatively impact Russell?s as that is not my intention, and I appreciate all he is doing for the community, and for the information and support he has provided me. As this group knows, any non-trivial app relies on data persistence, and open-source databases such as MySQL, etc., power much of the Internet. Data/database systems have always been relevant, but increasingly so in this era of big data, of AI and ML, etc. The RISC-V ecosystem offers a tremendous opportunity for organisations and individuals to have a completely open platform, but yet as this is still an emerging space, software support is lagging. I have a particular passion for data; in all my 30 years of professional IT experience, it?s always been giving people actionable insights to properly manage their own business area where I have seen the greatest transformation. As much as I might think I?ve written clever software, or built robust networks, or even implemented a great ERP (?) it?s been data, insights, and information that have had the greatest effect. I say all this simply to say data is an area I love. Previous explorations into RISC-V database engine support found that MySQL will not natively compile for RISC-V (but can with some patching), while MongoDB will not compile at all, nor will TiDB. Neither are available through APT installation either. MariaDB, Redis, and PostgreSQL fared better. However, there are other databases, and there are other tools that are vital and critical ? Apache Kafka, AirByte, and more, and which the whole field of data engineering relies on. In my view, it?s essential these products are all as easily available on RISC-V as they are on Intel or other current, popular hardware. Thus, my goal here is to identify key free software database and data-related products, establish their current capacity to compile, execute, and be distributed on and for RISC-V platforms, and then to explicitly work with the relevant project teams to highlight problems and seek resolution. At best, this project can help achieve quality software outcomes for this section of free software; at worst, it will result in a documented, current state of play of such products identifying the tools that are and are not working on RISC-V, and what issues exist for those that do not. Estimated cost breakdown of the project: This section is fluid, and my apologies for the imprecision. Identifying appropriate hardware that is sufficiently powerful but cost-effective and, importantly, which exists to ship has not been simple or straightforward. Further, shipping fees are somewhat unclear on certain items. That said, the LicheeCluster 4A with chassis (because it also ships without!) looks to be a suitable device -> https://sipeed.com/licheepi4a however, the cost may be prohibitive for this esteemed group. According to AliExpress it begins at $AU 1,520.87 and ranges up to $AU 2,029.92, plus $AU 87.48 shipping, or a total of $1,608.35 to $2,117.40. Ref -> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006024510948.html The pricing difference represents the RAM and storage, ranging from 7*(8GB + 32GB) to 7*(16GB + 128GB). Alternatively, there is also the Lichee Console 4A which says it is a portable RISC-V development terminal. It sounds cool, but is 7? and tiny though it does offer an M.2 (NGFF) 2422 socket. Pricing ranges based on capacity, but for the higher end model of 16GB DDR + 128GB eMMC + 1TB SSD it is $AU 698.60 and $41.72 shipping, for a total of $740.32 -> https://www.aliexpress.us/item/1005006174268912.html?gatewayAdapt=4itemAdapt Another device is the Lichee Pad Max 4A which is a 14? device, but it is pre-order only and I was not able to find the release date or pricing. Finally, there is the DeepComputing DC ROMA RISC-V laptop -> https://deepcomputing.io/product/dc-roma-risc-v-laptop/ which appears to be a robust model and costs are currently $AU 1,159 for the laptop plus $AU 198 shipping, or a total of $1,357. While I like the portability of a laptop, and the design and screen size, it has lower specs for a higher price than other options. I feel this unit has the advantage of aesthetics and design but ultimately does not represent good value. Consequently, I would be hoping this esteemed group may be willing to consider the costs for a LicheeCluster 4A with chassis with specs considered acceptable to the group for its costs, or the higher end Lichee Console 4A. This project does not seek funding for software (of course), or for peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc. ? purely for the RISC-V unit itself. I hope this request is (a) interesting, (b) demonstrates a valuable contribution to the community?s goals and aims, and (c) is sufficiently worded and fleshed out for consideration, subject to refinement through discussion. Sincere regards, David W -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From admin-team at linux.org.au Thu Nov 30 21:43:16 2023 From: admin-team at linux.org.au (Linux Australia Website) Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:43:16 +0000 Subject: [Grants] Grant Application from Lyndsey Jackson for Hack The Triangle Digital Skills Holiday Workshops Message-ID: Your Email Address: jackson.lyndsey at gmail.com Project name: Hack The Triangle Digital Skills Holiday Workshops Grant Type: Project Grant Aim of the project: Our aim is to empower young people from small regional towns in with valuable digital skills. We have successfully piloted tech projects involving drones, soldering, and NFC jewelry workshops, and we now seek funding to expand and sustain these initiatives and to create shareable resources such as workshop materials and reuseable grant applications for other communities. Four stages are outlined in this application, the first stage to be completed in January 2024 is part that these requested funds will cover. This first stage is a key part of enabling the remaining stages of the project and the creation of materials and grant applciations to share with other communities. Stage 1: Digital Skills Workshops (January 2024) Milestone 1: Host three digital skills workshops during the summer school holidays in our town. These workshops will engage local youth, providing them with hands-on experience in tech-related activities. Milestone 2: Use grant funds to purchase workshop supplies, cover administrative labor costs, and provide honorariums to young people who assist in workshop design and development. Milestone 3: Refine workshop content and documentation. Create a comprehensive "how-to" package that can be shared with other towns interested in similar initiatives during National Science Week and Youth Week. Stage 2: Rotary Club Presentation (2024) Milestone 4: Present our drone program to the local Rotary Club, emphasizing the importance of drones in agriculture and conservation. Seek their support to potentially expand our project through their extensive network of over 500 clubs worldwide. Stage 3: Expanding Project Reach (2024) Milestone 5: Apply for a larger National Science Week grant. Encourage other regional towns to apply for National Science Week grants to run the same workshops independently and set up their own Drone Squads. With our larger grant application we aim to take our workshops to multiple regional towns along the same route we covered in 2023, thereby expanding the reach of our digital skills initiatives. A successful Linux Australia grant would assist this grant application as it could be counted towards that. Stage 4: Building a Network of Young Leaders Milestone 6: Foster a network of young people in regional towns who can independently organize and run similar tech-related activities, creating a sustainable impact beyond our initial efforts. We have called the Drone Squad program Hack the Drones and you can see a video and photos on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/hackthedrones Estimated cost breakdown of the project: As we expand beyond our pilot phase, we've identified the need for additional materials. Any surplus equipment will be used ongoing the Hack The Triangle group. This equipment will support our mobile tech trailer, allowing us to bring workshops to underserved regional areas. Many of these towns lack access to such projects, so our goal is to inspire community maker spaces and encourage investment in accessible equipment. NFC workshop - aiming for 20 young people - excess material will go to future workshops/the tech trailer Resin jewlery material: $300 NFC tags: $50 Drone workshop 1 x Tello drone $240 Spare drone propellars & propellar cage: $100 Soldering Workshop Fans: $100 Stands: $100 Soldering iron and wire stuff: $100 Kids soldering kits: $300 Young volunteers honourarium: $250 Administrative support: $660 Total requested: $2,000 Project funds are managed through Open Collective, ensuring financial accountability and transparency. Project team details: The project lead is 16 year old Abel, Abel is often helped by their 7 year old sister Asha. Abel and Asha have been actively forming a group of young people who have been involved in running and designing the workshops. Abel is committed to helping local young people and sharing that knowledge with other communties. The project will be aucpiced by WeCollaborate under the Hack The Triangle project in South Australia. WeCollaborate is a social enterprise set up by Lyndsey Jackson and Amy Patterson, both of whom are technologists and activists committed to open source, open culture, and open knowledge sharing. Hack the Triangle is project spearheaded by Lyndsey in her home town region in South Australia. The Hack the Triangle group is a collective of local people supporting local projects and young people within the community. First Name: Lyndsey Last Name: Jackson Email Address: lyndsey at wecollaborate.com.au A statement including a willingness to provide regular project updates on the project: We will willingly procide regular project updates. We will publish updates and share content on our facebook page and a new website that we have under development. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 656867440763f.csv Type: text/csv Size: 5020 bytes Desc: not available URL: