So what do you do when you have a perfectly good computer, but no working hard disk and you need to do Java development.
I’ve created a quick little solution to my own problem that uses a plain vanilla Knoppix 3.6 CD and a 128MB USB Storage drive. I have managed to extend Knoppix’ includede JRE to be a full JDK, aded jikes, ant, maven and tomcat 5 on less than 30MB of storage space. I decided to post it in case other people are in the same predicament as I was.
Firstly get the latest version 3.6 of Knoppix and burn it to a CD. This comes with Sun’s JRE 1.4.2.05 on the CD as well as a fully working modern KDE and LInux system. If you are unaware of Knoppix, it’s a great way to run linux on just about any PC without installing it.
Knoppix uses a RAM disk for your home directory. Obviously you loose all of this when you turn the machine off. The solution is to create a persistent home directory on a usb thumb drive or similar. (I actually use a 128MB SD card and a USB SD Reader). J
So boot up Knoppix with your usb drive plugged in. Then choose “Create Persistent home directory” from the Knoppix/Configuration menu. Follow the instructions and reboot. When rebooting hit f3 and follow the instructions about using your new home directory.
When booted up download one of the following:
Unpack it in your home directory and create a new shell to update your environment variables. You should now be all set.
To develop I use Kate, but Knoppix also comes with KDevelop 3.0, which has support for Ant and Java syntax highlighting (I think).
If you have a large enough card and enough memory you could just install eclipse or IDEA on it as well.
After quitting my last job at the end of June and not being paid regularly since March, it is good with a bit of stability. I’ve got a new job here in Copenhagen. I’m as of yesterday Senior Consultant for TietoEnator Banking and Insurance which is a major consulting and services group in Scandinavia. They are doing some very interesting work and I will initially be in a technical architects role at a client of theirs.
Besides actually working with other technical people who know what they are talking about , I will have to come to turn with such innovative concepts of paid vacation (5 weeks) and paid sick days. I don’t think I have ever experienced such benefits of work before.
As a part of a longer “Experiment” I am now back in Denmark. I left 14 years ago when I was 20, so it’s kind of a big step. It has to be looked at as nothing more than an experiment for now. Current goal is to make it through the not so wonderful Danish winter and enjoy the wonderful Danish summer. Then we can see what we want to do on a long term basis. It may be back to Panama or it might be a split living situation. We’ve got to see.
My first impressions is that it is cold, but exciting. We’ve had some pretty sunny days, with the sidewalk cafes filled (Danes are strange) outside in the cold. Copenhagen is extremely multi cultural. Much more so than I remember.