[olpc-help] Should I get a dev key?

[Michael Stone]

tdang,

You should feel free to request a dev key and try out new builds. So
long as you are careful when using the firmware, you should find the XO
to be a pleasant platform on which to try out even major experiments
because it is so easy to restore to a clean state using OFW's
'copy-nand' word.

One useful pattern that I have adopted is to construct a USB key
containing my dev-keys, a selection of images that I like (e.g. a stable
and an unstable image), and a script that will install the RPMs and
profile data (SSH keys, .vimrc, ...) that I commonly use.

This way, I can rapidly reflash my XO with a stock build and I can
equally rapidly restore my own personal touches on top of the new clean
build.

Michael

On Tue, Jan 08, 2008 at 07:23:38PM +0000, tdang wrote:
> 
> I'm a moderately savvy user, but nowhere near the *nix knowledge of
> many on this board. I have just a little ability, and just a little
> interest, in hacking the XO.
> 
> I *do* want the opportunity to screw around. But I also really like
> the idea that I can unscrew myself. I'm not (yet) testing the
> bleeding-edge builds. I'm very confused about whether I should leave
> well enough alone (that's certainly what I'm doing for now), or get
> the dev key, and/or permanently disable firmware security.
> 
> Any advice?