As a beginner programer you would have much better luck with Python, there is an sdk for python as well. I would recommend python and start with simple programs then look at the python EZB library when you are a bit more comfortable with the python script language.

I would never recommend c++ as your first programing language.

This is due to you not using windows. For window users , I have not seen better software for robotic than the ARC.

@artblack01.... Further to what HippieGeek is saying... Why not swallow your pride and just pick up a cheap used windows 7 laptop? They are a dime a dozen and probably go for a song...

I do have a Windows Vista Laptop but my budget is a bit tight, especially since I just purchesed an EZ Robot controller camera and battery... it'll be at least a couple months before it is in my budget. However, having used Windows most of my life, been trained in some Mac stuff, and use Linux now on a regular basis, I have grown to dislike Windows immensely... not to get into a debate about which is better since for every person one OS system meets an individuals needs and expectations... I am a huge fan of open source systems... I just figured (wrongly) that EZRobot would be such a system. I won't say it has anything to do with pride it's just my expectations are really high. It's the difference between running a Pinto, a Labroghini and a coustom built jet car for me.... I would rather have the custom jet car than the other two because I don't have to pay someone else to fix it. But then again, I am still learning how to add new things to it.

I have another question.... is it possible to add to the EZRobot (hard drive, other motor and sensor drivers) to increase it's vocabulary and abilities to do things? Like have a more AI feel?

@artblack01, I get ya I use Linux primarily when I'm not on EZ-Robot time. EZ-Robot is the only place I use Windows It's pretty well worth it though, ARC is good software.

Like @RichardR said, a little old Windows 7 laptop can be had cheaply. There are also Windows 8 tablets that are capable of running ARC. There's one in particular that the forum members here seem to like and is vetted by many The Acer W3. Cheap little thing, works well from what I hear.

But unless I am mistaken... isn't this what OpenBot is for? Interfacing with EZ-B via Linux? Will take more programming than ARC probably. But it's always good to learn if you don't know how yet And it's a bit surprising to hear someone else who is using Linux and is just starting to program! Way back when... that's how I got started, I used Linux and didn't know how to program and had to force my way through. Of course, that was back when Gentoo was the cool thing, everyone was coming off RedHat and gaining dislike for it... There was no such thing as Unity, it was KDE or bust, and the interface is not as good as Windows and requires you to program quite a bit to get anything done. Linux users these days... Got it so simple with that nice Unity interface in Ubuntu. (I use it too)

@artblack01

Understand your dislike of Windows, but there are a lot of issues with distributing consumer level applications for Linux. That's why DJ did publish the Openbot libraries for programmers to perform basic functionality in Linux, but writes the ARC in Windows, where 90% of the consumer market is, and used dotnet framework, because, whether you like Microsoft or not, it provides a very good programming framework and handles a lot of the heavy lifting so the developer can work on features, not back-end functions.

I would not recommend this for EZ-B v3 since accessing Bluetooth from a virtual machine is problematic at best, but with an EZ-B v4 using WiFi, you should be able to run a Windows 7 or 8 instance in VirtualBox or the free version of VMWare (I believe VMWare desktop is still their free version). No need to buy additional hardware, just need a Windows license. If you know anyone with a Windows 7 DVD, you can install and run for 120 days without purchasing a license, so you could get started at no cost until your finances allow the purchase of a license.

http://lifehacker.com/5341666/run-windows-7-for-120-days-without-activation

Alan

Quote:

I have another question.... is it possible to add to the EZRobot (hard drive, other motor and sensor drivers) to increase it's vocabulary and abilities to do things? Like have a more AI feel?

I think you have a fundamental mis-understanding of how EZ-B works. It is not like an Arduino where you program the board. It get's its "brains" form a WiFi connected PC (or Android or soon iOS device - although for both of them, with the application built in ARC on Windows). So, yes, you can expand in may ways. Virtually anything a PC can do can be interfaced one way or another to a robot built using an EZ-B. The EZ-B itself can control digital and analog devices, so can be expanded with motor controllers, sensors, and literally thousands of different devices.

And that is not counting the direct support from ARC of several 3rd party robots and devices including Roomba and AR-Drone.

Alan

Maybe you don't quite understand how the EZB controller works... It will need a PC or Android device (Android needs an app built on a PC using ARC) at all times to control the EZB controller... In other words the EZB is tethered to your computer (via wifi) at all times in order to run... At this point you will need a windows 7 or 8 computer to use the ARC software (which is recommended for rookie programmers)... The computer is the brains and has the processor might to make the EZB as powerful as it is...

The EZB4 uses wifi to connect to your PC except for serial in and out there is no way to connect something like a hard drive to the ezb.... Why would you anyway, since you have at your disposal the entire hard drive of your pc to use... On the other hand, like all microcontrollers you can add a host of analog and digital sensors directly to the ebz ... aka input and output. This includes motor controllers, GPS, Gyros, etc....