[robstr12]

Someone gave me a printer...

http://www.linuxprinting.org/show_printer.cgi?recnum=Canon-LBP-460

and, its a paperweight.
I figure that if I work at it a little every day, I can learn the basics of C programming in one year. Then, maybe I can tackle the challenge of writing a device driver for this printer.

Is that a ridiculous thought?

C is the language that all this kind of stuff is written in, correct? If other people can do it, why not I?

[Dapper Dan]

I admire your ambition. I can't see any reason why you couldn't accomplish it if you really set your mind to it.

I wouldn't have the patience for such an undertaking. I have a few paperweights around here too, though, we call them, "boat anchors."

I've got a nice Visioneer scanner, a piece of crap Epson printer,(a brand I will never buy again even if they threw all their support behind Linux) about 12 winmodems, which sometimes I actually do use as paperweights!), and various bits and pieces that won't work with Linux.

Someone has to write the modules for hardware. I say go for it if it really interest you!

[robstr12]

Well,
If there's a will, there's a way. I can devote the time to it.
We'll just see, then.

If I ever get one to work, hehe, I'll post about it here, DD!!!

[iamroot]

Best of luck! Great drive u got there. I'm struggling like hell with C and C++ now but the result will be all worth it.

[egorgry]

Pick up writting linux device drivers by oreily. I had this book and it was just beyond teh scope of what I do. between my real job and a life I couldn't pull it off. good book tho.
btw, You're a better man than me.

[robstr12]

hehe...
Well, thanks you guys... but I'm a slight bit away from actually doing it yet.
Right now I'm reading and working through Practical C, an O'Reilly book.

I figure that I will keep at it... and then get that O'Reilly book about the device drivers.

It may take me years, but, if I do succeed in pulling it off, I would have something to put on my tombstone, I guess.

[iamroot]

Yup. Keep us updated though:->

[BSchindler]

I can suggest another very good book for learning about linux and concepts. "Beginning Linux Programming" by Richard Stones and Neil Matthew. Published by Wrox ISBN: 1-861002-97-1.

I have been writing C and running various flavors of Unix/Linux for nearly 20 years. I still pick up this book when I cannot remember some silly thing. The book has a good beginner's section on device drivers as well.

I have given this book as a gift to new Linux users who aspire to really learn how to write "work" code for this platform. It has been a great success. One of the best things about the book is that it has plenty of examples which you can actually run on your machine.

Good luck with learning C!