Discussion on this thread and previous ones in the chat have made me think once more about the "old versus new" paradigm in the community.
Originally the User Group was founded out of ex-IRIX Network members because people were getting criticized and harangued for not following the one true path of SGI software development, and they wanted a space to be able to pursue their own projects in a more supportive environment. I think it sometimes appears to people though -- with the human propensity for tribalism -- that we just formed another camp, e.g. the GCC camp vs. the MIPSpro camp.
I certainly hope this is not true. I think the ideal behind the User Group is that we are just happy that anyone is constructively turning on, using, fixing, and enjoying SGI hardware. Some people enjoy porting modern software with a GNU tool chain so that IRIX can become more of a "daily driver" environment. Some people enjoy using the original tool set and having a more authentic environment. Some people might want to run Linux on their SGIs or develop new Linux device drivers for the hardware. Some people just want to install software that other people have ported, and some people want to do everything from scratch themselves even though it means duplicating effort. Some people might even find it interesting to develop a new operating system entirely, or to use an Indy for home automation, to figure out old power supplies () or any number of things!
I think the important thing to remember is that everyone has their own particular interest in these machines or their own particular nostalgia for SGI that draws them in. Their interests and nostalgia are likely slightly different than everyone else's. @onre recently remarked that he would not mind running Linux or BSD on SGI hardware if it had better hardware support, but from myself, I would still run IRIX because I enjoy the 90s commercial UNIX workstation experience and aesthetic. As someone pays for non-GCC compilers for embedded development (RL78 etc.) I understand the inclination to be biased against GCC, but I am also not one of the people trying to port a modern browser or GTK 3.
If a GCC user suggests GCC to someone else struggling to get something to compile using MIPSpro, I don't think that should be viewed as SGUG being "GCC only" or "hating MIPSpro," both things I have heard from actual users. It's just one person trying to help another by saying how they solved similar issues. But they may not consider that someone is using MIPSpro for other reasons not stated.
This isn't a reprimand and I hope it doesn't turn into just a monologue with no replies. What people are doing is okay! Both the divergent projects they pursue as well as the minor conflicts they run into with people who don't see things the same way. I think it would be interesting, though, if people thought about and posted about why they use SGI and what draws them to the platform.
What do you enjoy about SGI machines and how does that drive what you do with them? I'll post my own view after a few others add their stories
Originally the User Group was founded out of ex-IRIX Network members because people were getting criticized and harangued for not following the one true path of SGI software development, and they wanted a space to be able to pursue their own projects in a more supportive environment. I think it sometimes appears to people though -- with the human propensity for tribalism -- that we just formed another camp, e.g. the GCC camp vs. the MIPSpro camp.
I certainly hope this is not true. I think the ideal behind the User Group is that we are just happy that anyone is constructively turning on, using, fixing, and enjoying SGI hardware. Some people enjoy porting modern software with a GNU tool chain so that IRIX can become more of a "daily driver" environment. Some people enjoy using the original tool set and having a more authentic environment. Some people might want to run Linux on their SGIs or develop new Linux device drivers for the hardware. Some people just want to install software that other people have ported, and some people want to do everything from scratch themselves even though it means duplicating effort. Some people might even find it interesting to develop a new operating system entirely, or to use an Indy for home automation, to figure out old power supplies () or any number of things!
I think the important thing to remember is that everyone has their own particular interest in these machines or their own particular nostalgia for SGI that draws them in. Their interests and nostalgia are likely slightly different than everyone else's. @onre recently remarked that he would not mind running Linux or BSD on SGI hardware if it had better hardware support, but from myself, I would still run IRIX because I enjoy the 90s commercial UNIX workstation experience and aesthetic. As someone pays for non-GCC compilers for embedded development (RL78 etc.) I understand the inclination to be biased against GCC, but I am also not one of the people trying to port a modern browser or GTK 3.
If a GCC user suggests GCC to someone else struggling to get something to compile using MIPSpro, I don't think that should be viewed as SGUG being "GCC only" or "hating MIPSpro," both things I have heard from actual users. It's just one person trying to help another by saying how they solved similar issues. But they may not consider that someone is using MIPSpro for other reasons not stated.
This isn't a reprimand and I hope it doesn't turn into just a monologue with no replies. What people are doing is okay! Both the divergent projects they pursue as well as the minor conflicts they run into with people who don't see things the same way. I think it would be interesting, though, if people thought about and posted about why they use SGI and what draws them to the platform.
What do you enjoy about SGI machines and how does that drive what you do with them? I'll post my own view after a few others add their stories