Hello all,<p>I need your advice in selecting the software stack for an educational, boot-to-code computer. The computer will be an AIO with a keyboard, screen and a Linux board with just-enough CPU to run the coding environment.<p>The intent is that eventually in the future to turn the computer in a commercial product that will come bundled with a coding book that will teach coding to young audiences and enthusiasts. E.g. a modern-retro computer.
Below are a few mockups and even a possible ad:<p>Pic1: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FqZl4tNWAAEVICB?format=jpg<p>Pic2: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fo-QP-MX0AEOjUJ?format=jpg<p>Pic3: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fo-QP-PXEAIGSn4?format=jpg<p>The computer will offer a simple coding editor, a language (TBD) with a nice API for drawing shapes, put sprites, etc. on a graphical canvas.<p>Now, back to software stack that will power the coding environment (editor, menus, etc.) and a language interpreter (e.g. JavaScript).<p>Main requirement from software stack is to run on a low-powered Linux SBC and boot in under 5 seconds to coding environment.<p>I’m considering the following options:<p>1. Dart + Flutter + Skia (no X)<p>2. C# + Avalonia + Skia (no X)<p>3. Kotlin + Compose for Desktop + Skia (no X)<p>4. Pascal + Ultibo (no Linux)<p>5. C + LVGL (no X)<p>6. Vala + GTK (Linux w/ X)<p>7. HTML5 (Linux w/X and Chromium engine).<p>What do you recommend?<p>P.S. Looking forward to your recommendations regarding features of the coding platform. My intent is that experience to be similar to fantasy consoles (but high-res) or to codeguppy.com environment.
Your concept looks nice, it reminds me a bit of the Lisperati: <a href="https://www.hackster.io/news/the-lisperati1000-is-a-cyberdeck-terminal-dedicated-to-lisp-programming-bb564f2ffcff" rel="nofollow">https://www.hackster.io/news/the-lisperati1000-is-a-cyberdec...</a><p>So, did you consider Lisp or maybe Smalltalk? Plan 9 or Inferno might also be options.<p>Plan 9 comes in different variants, the "classic" one (with a Raspberry Pi port by Richard Miller) or 9front, an Inferno porting tutorial can be found at <a href="https://github.com/yshurik/inferno-rpi">https://github.com/yshurik/inferno-rpi</a><p>Lisp and Smalltalk can run with or without Linux underneath, e.g. on the Raspberry Pi.<p>Bare-metal Lisp is available with interim: <a href="http://interim-os.com" rel="nofollow">http://interim-os.com</a><p>Finally, bare-metal Smalltalk is available in my crosstalk system: <a href="https://github.com/michaelengel/crosstalk">https://github.com/michaelengel/crosstalk</a><p>Of course, Lisp and Smalltalk can also run hosted under Linux, e.g. using Squeak (<a href="https://squeak.org" rel="nofollow">https://squeak.org</a>), Pharo (<a href="https://pharo.org" rel="nofollow">https://pharo.org</a>) or InterLisp (<a href="https://github.com/Interlisp/medley">https://github.com/Interlisp/medley</a>).<p>Or - a crazy idea - build an emacs-only machine. That would be fun! :)
So like the Commander X16 then? It's basically a retro modern computer with immediate boot to BASIC coding mode.<p><a href="https://www.commanderx16.com" rel="nofollow">https://www.commanderx16.com</a><p><a href="https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commander_X16" rel="nofollow">https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/Commander_X16</a>