Math4 Projects: Installing the code for both Fortune Hunter and PacMath using git was relatively easy and I described how to do it on our team's wiki, currently under the Discussion page. Everything is written in Python, but I could not find any kind of executable in the Fortune Hunter folders. I was able to "run" PacMath, but playing of game itself does not seem to be implemented yet and the project may be inactive.
So I went on to try to install the Sugar Learning Environment itself...
Sugar Emulator: I use Ubuntu 10.04 on my main computer, so I tried to follow the directions given on the sugar wiki (can be found here):
echo "deb http://bazaar-download.sugarlabs.org/Platform/Ubuntu-10.04 ./" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb http://bazaar-download.sugarlabs.org/Distribution:/0.90/Ubuntu-10.04 ./" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
gpg --keyserver keys.sugarlabs.org --recv-keys 75BB5FDF
gpg --armor --export 75BB5FDF | apt-key add -
apt-get update
synaptic
search for "sweets", install all (these are the Activities)
"sweets-distribution" failed to install, so I unmarked it and went on my way.
I think this process installed both the Sugar Desktop environment for Ubuntu and the Sugar Emulator.
Sugar-emulator appears in the gnome menu and runs as it should. I was able to install the Fortune Hunter activity (login required for Sugar Labs) inside the emulator, but the resolution is a problem. Apparently Sugar activities default to 1200x900, which is strange considering the XO's 7.5 inch display. My 15.4 inch monitor does not even support resolutions that high, so I was unable to see any of the important activities and messages going on at the bottom of the game. Running "sugar-emulator -f" for fullscreen mode does not improve the situation.
Another major problem with the emulator is that it fails to recognize my arrow keys, essential for gameplay in Fortune Hunter. This is/was a known problem in Xephyr which runs the emulator, and none of the suggested workarounds work on my system.
So I tried something else...
Sugar on a Stick in VirtualBox: I followed the directions here, downloaded the appropriate files, set up VirtualBox for Fedora, and started the virtual machine. The biggest problem with using a virtual machine is how slow it can be. Also, it does not seem to save any modifications, unless I missed something in the configuration. The keyboard works as it should, but the bottom part of the Fortune Hunter game is still cut off, leaving the best solution so far to be...
Sugar Desktop in Ubuntu: At least for using Fortune Hunter. But this requires I log out of my normal gnome desktop to log in to Sugar every time I need to use. I can see MOST of the game, and everything else seems to be working.
Standalone Activities? I came across a manual for creating Sugar Activities, and it even says that developers should first create a standalone Python program. We should probably contact the RIT students working on Fortune Hunter and see if there is a standalone executable buried somewhere in their files.
Thoughts: I still believe our best bet for contributing to the Math4 Project would be to eventually create our own, new Activity as a group, rather than jumping into a project that seems to be largely concentrated with other students who have their own ideas on where this program is heading. They are very helpful and eager to get us started working on Fortune Hunter though. It also seems to be the only currently active project going on for Math4.
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