reprogramming a router with a new OS is fairly straight forward. There are several Open Firmware projects (including dd-wrt) that can work. I have had experience with most of the commodity stuff and also messed with dd-wrt more than once.
if you want, I can send along a copy of my resume (as I am looking for work). One nice thing about most of the routers I have messed with: they are very screen reader friendly. I wouldn't mind joining in a startup, but about the only thing I can bring to the table is some computer/technical background. I can also function as an accessibility consultant (mostly because that really is a major issue for me). -eric On Mar 23, 2014, at 9:38 PM, David Schwartz wrote: > I have some general questions relating to a programming project for a > startup, and someone suggested this might be a good place to post them. > > A guy I know is involved with a start-up and they need to have a commercial > router reprogrammed for their specific needs. (I can’t address the why’s or > wherefore’s about this. That’s all they’ve told me thus far.) > > Since this list probably has a fairly wide range of people on it, I figured a > few of you might know something about taking on projects for startups, and > also maybe even programming routers. > > I found the product page for the router they’re interested in using, and it > has a link to download the GNU-licensed source code that they’re obligated to > distribute. It’s a tarball that contains a customized version of OpenWrt, an > embedded Linux distro designed mainly for use inside of routers and similar > equipment. > > (see http://openwrt.org for more info) > > I’ve looked over the OpenWrt site, and it uses Packages to allow you to add > your apps into a virtual file system. Since the router’s logic, as a Package, > wouldn’t be part of the distro, it’s probably not included in the tarball. > But the configuration screens may be. > > Anyway, this guy wants me to talk with their tech dude about implementing > custom firmware for these devices. > > I’ve never programmed routers before, but it seems like little more than > taking data packets from one port, filtering them, maybe translating and/or > transforming them, and sending them out of another port. I don’t know exactly > what they want done yet, so I don’t know why they need customized firmware. > > Ignoring all of the specific, and keeping in mind that they’re a start-up and > are probably under-capitalized, I have the following > > QUESTIONS > > 1) Generally speaking, how easy is it to find someone who has experience > doing this kind of work? (embedded Linux for equipment, including routers) > > 2) What would they normally charge? (ie., is it a super-specialty kind of > thing that would command a really high rate? Or would $50/hr be considered > reasonable?) > > 3) If they want to pay mostly or entirely in equity, how would you arrive at > a fair compensation rate? How much harder would that make it to find someone > to do the work? > > 4) I could probably learn what’s needed and do this for them, but it wouldn’t > be as fast as someone who’s programmed routers before. I’m trying to decide > if I’d be better off saying I’ll do the programming and everything myself, or > take this on as a kind of Project Manager and do what I can while finding > someone else to do the coding. They’d still be paid in stock, I’d imagine. > > 5) Assuming they have some kind of a spec, how much work would be involved > before you’d start coding? IOW, how much prep work would be needed before > you’re ready to code this? What I’m getting at here is this: is there a good > chance there’s 40-50 hours (eg., a full week) of prep work, like rebuilding > and tweaking the OS, verifying it can be loaded onto the device, figuring out > how to debug it live, and so forth? Or is this something that would take a > day or so? > > 6) How could I split this into some smaller deliverables for project > management purposes? (I’m just not familiar enough with embedded projects > like this to guess what kinds of milestones someone might set.) > > Keep in mind this is a commercial product that they want to reprogram. The > vendor is going to be of little or no use in helping with anything. So we’d > be hacking this thing all the way. > > I’m curious what your opinions are. Please refrain from things like, “turn > and run away as fast as you can!” I get that some folks won’t go near > startups. That’s fine. It doesn’t alter the fact that these guys are looking > for someone, and they’ll find them sooner or later. I’m just trying to get a > sense of how to negotiate with them and if it’s worth my while to consider > taking it on it myself. > > Thanks! > > -David > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
