Test Platform

So while I was waiting for all the bits to arrive I decided to setup my software development platform, it's a lot easier coding on a decent PC rather than on the RasPi.

I don't fancy running a dual boot system between Linux and Windows 7 (my normal platform), so the obvious choice is to run Linux in a virtual machine using some free software like VBOX.

If you're not familiar with VBOX of virtual machines all it really does is allows you to run other operating systems in their own little 'box' or window onto of your current operating system as if it was a PC in it's own right.

Here's a screenshot of VBOX running on my rig.

You'll notice a text editor with some coding going on. We'll get to that a bit later. But to whet your appetite that's some python (programming language) code I'm using to plot GPS coordinates from a file onto the screen.

The VBox software is basically a PC Emulator. You just fire up a new 'Virtual PC' then install whatever operating system you want on it, whatever software you need.

The advantages are you can run multiple OS's on one machine and everything you do in that Virtual PC is isolated from your normal PC, so it's great for trying things out. If you make a mess of it then your normal PC is protected and you can only screw up the virtual PC.

You can configure the Virtual Machines to use your network connection, share peripherals etc, like keyboards, mice, USB devices. And you can configure then so they can access your hard disc so you could share files between you main PC and you Virtual PC.

So I've now setup a couple of virtual machines in VBOX using Debian Wheezy, the version the RasPi uses. The first is my main dev & test platform, the second is a clone of the first after I set it up. Vbox can take a copy of a virtual machine. Saves time re-installing everything "when" you screw something up, you just re-copy the clone and off you go again.