Build a Bootloader with Your Children

arrayfire.com

43 points·ajju··5 comments

> The intent of this activity is to drive home the idea that fundamental computing is not the abstraction that Apple devices or cloud platforms make it out to be. Rather, computers are machines that execute instructions to process data. Moreover, the computer and those instructions must physically exist somewhere.

That's a noble intent.

Thanks for the kind words!

I also feel it's necessary to help children avoid the consumption trap. But why not start with a low-end embedded system? It would be easier and cheaper to source, program and take home. Plus: blinkenlights.

I'll admit, the project started out as a strange search to find the latest Linux distro that would run reasonably on a 486. That's why the Slack 11 hard drive image is provided - it's the result of my search. However, hearing a floppy drive churn and realizing a boot loader is short made the conjunction in my head click: OMG my daughters need to understand this!

I also admit that Slack 11 is my own personal opinion given hardware constraints. Others have performed a similar search.

Yeah started on Slackware 3 on 80386s myself. The package installation process was very good for stimulating curiosity for new 'nixers about system packages. I particularly loved seeing bison: a parser generator in the style of yacc pop up. Cracked me up every time!

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