I like to dabble in C, and I wrote and compiled my first C program in linux using gcc. Here it is.

#include < stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("this is a test \n");
printf("my name is\n");
printf("Mickey mouse\n");
}

I brought up a Linux shell and I compiled my hello.c program my typing cc -o hello hello.c in the bash shell. Then to run it, I typed ./hello. The dot back slash with no spaces is important!

I finally learned how to compile a C program!

I gave up trying to make pop up windows, and I put all the buttons and entry boxes on one form. My skill level is not there yet, but I will keep trying. I think I am going to add a drop down list next. I emailed this one to the lady I work with, and I think she likes it. She has used it already. I like the interface better on this version. I am getting better at placing the buttons on the window using the pack method. That is a skilled task in itself!

I am snowed in, so I have been working on a new python program. I named it "Steve's Swiss Army Knife Program." It's a good start, but I have a long way to go.

OK, its not python, but I found a great visual basic program for Linux. Back in the day, I programmed VB 6, and now I have a way to use that old programming knowlege. It's call gambas. I found it in the Ubuntu Software Center, and it was very easy to install. I am very impressed with it. It was a snap to create an executable file. Only down side- it does not run on windows. I don't use windows, so that's not a downside for me.

I could not figure out how to get python going on the Crunchbang Operating system, but then I tried installing idle from the command line. The command box told me idle is not installed, and then told me how to do it. I typed sudo apt-get install idle at the command line. This is the first time I used the command line to install a program! Pretty neat! I type idle from a command line to start python. Ubuntu has a GUI to install programs, but I have to use the command line in Crunchbang. What else is cool, it's all fits on a 2 gig thumb drive!