Bug Labs Debugs the Hardware Business

摘要

Bug Labs is a startup with the laudable (and long overdue) ambition of making hardware building "just as easy as writing software or Web applications". That's from the index page. Dig down and find that "Bug Labs envisions a future where CE stands for Community Electronics, the term 'mashups' applies equally to hardware as it does to Web services, and entrepreneurs can appeal to numerous markets by inventing 'The Long Tail' of devices." In an early blog entry, Bug Labs CEO Peter Semmelhack added, "It's Legos meets Web services and APIs. Imagine being able to build any gadget you wanted by simply connecting simple, functional components together. Now imagine being able to easily program, share and connect these gadgets in interesting ways..." At the heart of the system is the BUGbase, described as "a fully programmable and 'hack-able' Linux computer, equipped with a fast CPU, 128MB RAM, built-in Wi-Fi, rechargeable battery, USB, Ethernet and small LCD with button controls. It also has a tripod mount because, well, why not?" What matters most here, second only to Bug Labs' ambitions, is its beliefs and practices around Linux and open source. Adds cofounder Peter Semmelhack, "In essence, we're building an open-source-based platform for programmers to build not only the applications they want but the hardware to run it on."