JWilly's Linux Travels

Squashmount and aufs: Gentoo on tiny 4GB root! I came across a post about "squashing" certain directories on a Gentoo install (portage tree, portage db, /usr/src/, etc) much like those minimal-install-cd's use!  AuFS is an improved "union" filesystem.  I don't understand it all, but as a hardware engineer it's kinda like having a dual-port memory (I think).  Given that many of the directories I want to squash also contain many, many tiny files, mashing them all together increases performance on disk reads (supposedly). My Eee PC 901 still functioning... I was intrigued as my little netbook has its SDcard slot occupied for quite some time with a 32GB card for the /usr directory (2GB swap space as well!).  I wanted to change that.  I wanted to see if I could actually use my netbook as an " ultra-portable internet-connected enduring-battery system..." and happen to run a really snappy source distro!   The technique requires a very...

USBmicroISP v1.0:  The Beginning Steps of Dev I like small things.  I don't know why.  It's something about slimness, minimal living I guess.  I drive a Honda Civic, yes. To develop for a micro-scale, wearable electronics project, you have got to have a smaller  USBtinyISP  programmer.  Take the guts of that ISP (in-circuit serial programmer) project (props to the original devs there) and put them in this amazingly small box? Don't you just want to put something in there? Just imagine if small things weren't a thing. You'd be wearing THIS: Do not try to wear this at home, kids. Oh, the HORROR. Anyways... Here's my re-design that is mostly based off Adafruit's USBtinyISP and USB tiny code & design .  I just wanted to...ah... improve it a bit.   The Design Smaller, uses micro USB instead of large printer one, and looks cool, too.  The design is mostly reduced to SMD components, which presents the prog...

Restart Into Electronics (and not getting lost) So I decided to really start investing my wandering hobbitual energies into something that I had heard about back in 2009 or so while in college (see my project  Let's Make Things Talk blog ).  What I speak of is the Arduino project.  Well, let's just say the Arduino world  ever since the opensource community embraced this wholeheartedly.  So cool to see that happen.  Personally, I've also wanted to have something worthy to communicate to the world. Xmas gift from my brother, to add to the tool collection!  Ask and you shall receive. The Restart for Myself I have many interests, too many probably.  Too many hobbies, things, inventions I like to dream about.  They seem to all revolve around making and creating (the will to power).  You know that feeling of squelched passion ?  I've found release in channeling that into my original love: electronics .  Hardware and s...