differences between opie and gpe

[jrktiger]

This may have been covered before but what are the advantages/disadvantages of opie compared to gpe?  Specifically, I am interested in performance, applications, and stability.

Thanks

[VeeDubb]

If that's what you're intersted in, you need to run Opie, period.

GPE actualy runs a variation of the X windows System that Linux on the desktop.

This is nice in the sense that it's pretty, and can run some more powerful apps if you put the work into it.  However, it takes a lot more CPU power to  crank it over.  Also, at the moment, the GPE version is VERY broken IMHO.

So, if you want a super cool AND super geeky interface with lot's of potential but you're also willing to put in lot's of work, GPE is cool.

If you want a basicaly finished and pollished interface with lot's of apps that a monkey can install to make a useful and user friendly tool at the same time, use the Opie interface.

[jrktiger]

Thanks, since the GPE version will not log out and back in, I am going to use the OPIE version.

[Bundabrg]

I've looked at GPE briefly, and I think it has very good potential.

Anyone tried to get it to run with a pdaXrom? I'm wondering if its worth setting up a development environment and trying?

 - Bundabrg

[VeeDubb]

I agree that it has huge potential, it's just not right for casual users, "yet."   The pdaXrom dev kit should NOT work.  pdaX uses a different gcc whic will break it all by itself, plus the other differences are too numerous to count.

[lardman]

pdaX uses a different gcc whic will break it all by itself

Yes, but it may still work. I actually think they use GCC 3.x anyway.

I'm wondering if its worth setting up a development environment and trying?

Er, OE.....?

Anyone tried to get it to run with a pdaXrom?

This doesn't actually make sense (to me at least ;-)).

OZ+GPE is largely equivalent to pdaXrom, except that pdaXrom uses an old libc (or have they changed at last?), I'm fairly sure that they use GCC 3.xx, and they have a crappy version of ipkg.

I understand what you're trying to say - about trying to get the good features of pdaXrom on OZ+GPE, but I think it would be easier to just work on OZ+GPE.


Si

[dansawyer]

Is there a place to read about the different stacks?

For example, what is the OZ layer that is the equivilent to X11??

Thanks,
Dan

[Mickeyl]

From memory it's like that:

GPE-Image:

Linux fb --> Xfb --> Xlib --> GTK --> GPE

Opie-Image:

Linux fb --> ----Qt/Embedded ---- --> Opie

[dansawyer]

Thanks,

That is very helpful. The link below points to a page that seems to refer to both qpe and opie in the same context. The first image shows a qpe app running in an opie background.

http://qpegps.sourceforge.net/shots.html

Is this likely a qpe app? Is this really opie?

Does porting this qpegps app to 3.5.1 intail all the issues mentioned above?

Thanks,
Dan

[zenyatta]

dansawyer: I'm afraid you are confusing GPE (GPE Palmtop Environment) with QPE (Qt Palmtop Environment, a.k.a. Qtopia (Opie's ancestor)). qpegps is therefore a Qtopia/Opie application, not having anything to do with GPE.

z.

[dansawyer]

Thank you, you are correct. I was.

That said should a qpe app run on 3.5.1? The question assumes oz-compat is loaded.

Thanks,
Dan

[zenyatta]

I don't think there's a problem if you get oz-compat working. I vaguely remember there was some hassle with setting it up (back under 3.3.6) and the interface for configuring a legacy app is quite cumbersome. I did run the Hancom suite with oz-compat but after I flashed 3.3.6 for the third time or so I gave up on it. YMMV.

z.