I'm still developing the software along with a prototype machine. So far it seems to work pretty well.
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FDraw Visualization and Graphics System
Some major points:
The goal of FVGS is to provide a lightweight graphics system, mainly oriented towards the engineering, construction and steel fabricating industries, but can also be used or modified for other disciplines as well.
The base operating system is a very minimal Linux distribution, presently TinyCore Linux, which contains the Linux kernel, X11 window system, text editor and terminal emulator.
The software part is the FDraw system. FDraw contains a draw/sketch program, 3D/perspective-based object drawing, photogrammetical (image-based) operations, annotator, various calculators and conversion charts and a basic text-based web browser.
The hardware part (presently in prototypical stage) is a PC with a read-only operating system. There is no internal hard drive. All write-able data is stored on removable flash media, such as a thumb drive.
FDraw uses the Icon and Unicon programming languages, which are both terrific languages that optimize computer resources well and have great graphics capabilities (see links below for more information).All of the code for FDraw is freely available to check out and use. You are welcome to make improvements, or use these ideas in your own project (see links below for more information).
FVGS computers can be made quite easily using new or old hardware and components. Recycled computers (even ones disposed of without hard drives) can be converted into FVGS machines. The only requirements are a CD/DVD drive and USB port. Older processors will work (the prototype presently uses a Pentium II and it works quite well), but newer ones are optimal. The system is small enough that it could potentially be used in something like a Raspberry PI.
Theoretically, though untested, security should not be a major issue. Since the OS drive is read-only it cannot be corrupted. While the memory drive is removed after use it, of course, can't be infected with anything either.
FDraw software has been tested on Linux, Windows and IRIX.
Wish list:
Links:
If you would like more information about FDraw or FVGS please contact Shawn Fratis: shawnfratis@gmail.com.
