| Looking into the future of Linux |
by Tom Adelstein (Oct. 13, 2004)
We caught up with Ricardo, who lives and works in London, England and came out with an interview.
Desktop Linux – Ricardo, you own a Linux gaming company and say you immediately gravitated to Linux as a development environment for that purpose. How does Project Looking Glass fit into you business model?
Ricardo Wagemaker - Project Looking Glass, also known to the techies as lg3d is a project that will one day replace the existing 2D desktop environment with which all Linux users are familiar. Lg3d is revolutionizing the computer desktop environment not only for the Linux users but also for the people who currently deploy Windows.
For several years now, we became accustomed to traditional 2D desktop environment like Gnome, and KDE and many others where the changes to each version has always been to improve the stability, flexibility and trying to attract the eyes of the user . But now LG3D is being created with a whole new concept where the desktop environment is not only going to be more stable, flexible, and attractive to users but it's coming with a new concept where the desktop is going to be presented to the people exactly the way they see it in real life; in 3D and panoramically. We are used to 3D environment from the day we are born so now with LG3D we can simply continue our way of living in our work environment.
As computer processors are getting faster, doubling their speed every 18 months; LG3D can finally provide an environment where we know how it feels and an environment where we have always felt safe and comfortable but now all this will be provided in the most used tool in the world, 'A Computer'.
DL: If I visit your site what will I have to do to get project looking glass? - Why would I go to your site instead of Sun's official site.
RW: Our site – http://gcclinux.com provides automated scripts to download and compile LG3D directly from the latest source. This makes installing the code base user-friendly for people who don't understand or go through a time rebuild of the code.
Project looking glass actually comes in two forms. You can download the necessary files including a pre-compiled binary of the most current stable- version and or you can download the development source code and get it compiled on your system.
The benefit you will have by getting Project Looking Glass directly from our web site is that I have made it so simple for those who are not experts in the Linux world but still wish to see and experience the product in its current status.
A number of documents exist at our site that will explain the requirements and dependencies. Those packages allow you to build the operational environment to get one up and running as soon as possible and in the easiest way possible.
While the project itself concentrates in developing the desktop environment I concentrate on making the experience to a new user as smooth as possible by providing all of the documents, packages, scripts, support and help.
DL: You say that Linux and in particular JDS can be an entertainment distribution - what makes you believe that?
RW: Well JDS is based on Linux technology and Linux entertainment is growing rapidly. Sun also leads the entertainment industry in several key categories such as security, wireless technology and deployment. Large game producers already produce their own games on Linux and release them at the same time as their Windows releases.
Also hundreds of open source games exist out there available for download. I believe JDS offers the best visual experience for Linux especially when it comes to desktop rendering. So, with its head start JDS can become an entertainment distribution quickly. I will download, compile, install, test and pack the games for the JDS users so that they only have to download and install the game they wish to play.
Alternatively we have and are developing what I called the GccInstaller, which is a application that you can install on your JDS system that automatically configures, installs, adds entries in the Launch menu of any game that has been made available for it. The GccInstaller when launched will connect to our database so users can get the latest list of available games that we providing. They then get prompted to choose which game they wish to install and Gccinstaller does the rest. That is why I think that JDS can be a entertainment distribution.
DL: I understand that these are free downloads. Who does the porting of these games and what is involved?
RW: Yes all games that are available for download are open source which means they are there to download for free without infringing any licensing issues. The packaging or porting as you call it has so far been done by me. I download the source code and dependencies and install it, configure it and then pack it so that JDS users can simply download the package from our site. They currently run a simple command to install a game without having to worry about finding those required dependency programs. We're merely trying to make the life of JDS users simple and enjoyable.
DL: Tell us about your forums.
RW: We have two entirely separate forums:
In the first forum we concentrate on games, mainly Linux based games, but some games are also available to other operating systems. Although we do not actually prepare nor pack any of the games displayed at the forum we simply provide a full description of the game and where it can be found to download. We only pack games that will be running on JDS and these games are available outside the Gamer Community forum.
The second forum is fairly new, I created it to promote and help out those that are interested in the Looking Glass project. In that forum you will find a number of scripts and packages that enable a non-technical person to download and install LG3D. We also try to provide support for those having difficulties getting lg3d up and running.
DL: What's your plan as far as the future?
RW: My immediate plan is to generate the largest collection of game packages available. I'm making that available to the JDS community which I feel will increase the acceptance of Linux.
DL: So, people should check back with you because you're adding games everyday?
RW: That is correct, I have been adding on average one game everyday to the games collection. That may slow down depending on how busy we're becoming. Obviously, I like to attract other developers to the project. Games include so many aspects of the desktop including sound, rendering, latency. It puts the desktop through a real workout. So, it's important to find developers who have an interest in Linux and can bring varying technologies to the part.
DL: Well, we certainly wish you the best of luck.
About the Author
 Tom Adelstein lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Yvonne, and works as a Linux and open-source software consultant locally and nationally. He's the co-author of the upcoming book Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop, published by O'Reilly and Associates. Tom has written numerous articles as a guest editor for a variety of publications on Linux technical and marketing issues. His latest venture has him working as the webmaster for JDSHelp.org.
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