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side4linux, a simple integrated development environment!

What side4linux is

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• side4linux is a simple IDE intended for source code programming in C, G-code and Assembler with an emphasis on developing manufacturing applications and mechanically machined components.
  
• The IDE consists of a multi tabbed editor which has syntax highlighting and additional mechanical engineering tools such as a G-code Arc calculator and a bolt center circle calculator.
• It provides a project based source code editing and build environment for the above languages based around Linux, the ATMEL AVR MPU's and generic ARM MPU's. The intention is to integrate the full development of a CAD/CAM/CIM system over time for the areas of machine control and robotics.
• side4linux divides data into 'Project Areas' which builds into a single 'Product' which is comprised of all of the Projects needed to make that single Product.
  
• Projects are divided into eight different areas: ANCA, ARMC, AVRA, AVRC, CLC, GNOMEC, GNOMECGL, PCBS. Some of these areas are Linux related and some are specific to the MPU's currently supported.
  
• Each project area of the Product is kept separated to prevent confusion and to allow for sensible development processes to be employed.
• It differs from other IDE's in the support for 'ANCA style' G-code programming, as a front end for the AVRA assembler (another Sourceforge project), embedded 'C', embedded assembler, the support for making PCB's and the ability to run external CNC machinery such as milling machines, lathes and robots.
  
• No doubt other IDE's are better in many ways but this one is unique to it's intended audience (mechanical engineering). We are trying to combine all of the important open source tools that are used in this area into a single build environment so that users may not only make mechanical parts but may also use the IDE to alter the build environment software using the same IDE!
• Naturally side4linux is built using side4linux!
• Why not just use someone else's IDE? Well side4linux is designed to serve mechanical engineering and is not generic in nature. It only contains the bells/whistles needed for this particular field and yet it is extensible should the demand not be fully met.
• side4linux is not designed to be the biggest or the best, just nicely usable.

side4linux is beta software that has been under development for only a short while. It works fairly well but be prepared for the occasional crash by saving complete copies of your Product directories to a different location. Remember, save early and save often !!

As you are aware from the use of the GPL side4linux is provided free of charge and is open source, this is our way of thanking the programming community for the wonderful range of Open Source tools that we use daily.

Please note that instead of reinventing the wheel we have set side4linux up as a program launcher so some features cannot work unless these additional programs are installed, be sure to have the following in your execution PATH to try everything,

• firefox (the browser needed for the provided HELP pages).
• gcc4 (C compiler).
• GNU Autotool set (autoconf, make etc.).
• GTK+ (2.16 or better recommended).
• glade2/3 (GTK graphical interface builder needed to build GNOME visual code).
• avra (AVR assembler, not needed for anything other than AVR assembly coding, get AVRA from Sourceforge).
• Gnome and libGnome development libraries.
• libGlade development libraries.
• Mesa for OpenGL, if you are going to try any of the GNOMECGL Demo's or Tools. (libGL and libGLU)
• 'gEDA' and 'pcb' are needed to create printed circuit boards (download and install the latest 'PCBS' support package from the side4linux website).
• Latest 'C' help files, download and install the latest 'help' support packages from the side4linux website.
• 'gksu ' / 'gksudo' used to provide user access to the machinery where super user privileges are required.
• 'xpdf' to read PDF documents provided.
  
• 'xterm' used by various embedded 'tools' during activation to provide error and status messaging.
  

side4linux is meant for GNOME friendly distributions like Debian, Ubuntu or SUSE. You may find that if you use Mandrake (or other KDE dominant distributions) additional Gnome libraries may need to be downloaded and installed.

As an example of what side4linux can do please view the following graphic which outlines the Machine Controller (MC-1)  that we are designing,





If you are new to Linux and anything above scares you then click on this LINK to a Linux Help Website, download the compressed file copy of the site and keep it for later reference!


Enjoy! and may the Open Source be with you!

David Burke, Adelaide, South Australia, 2009.