Tinker Boxes

A Tinker Box is a specialized cloud-based environment designed to foster collaborative tinkering. Structured by individual labs, each Tinker Box operates as an isolated cloud computer while remaining interconnected through specific shared data directories. Tinker boxes are accessible directly from your web browser, requiring no additional software installations.

Control Panel

After you’ve logged in, locate the Tinker control panel at the bottom left corner of the page. Your tinker control panel where you will start, pause, and resume your tinker box. To start your tinker box, simply press the play icon:

As your tinker box warms up, the red circle next to your tinker box name will turn from red to yellow to green. Once your circle is green, you may launch your tinker box by pressing the launch icon. Your IP address will appear next to your tinker box name.

Once you see the welcome message, you’ll know you’re connected.

         /,
        ///,        AXIOTL INC
       /////,       This is your own little computer.
      ///°´|//      Lab data is read-only, but you're
     ´     '/       encouraged to re-write scripts.

~/shared-files

The ~/shared-files directory is your collaborative hub within the Tinker Box environment. Positioned conveniently in the left panel (above the control panel) this folder streamlines the process of sharing files among your lab members.

Downloading

To download a file, simply click the overflow icon next to the file name and choose the ‘Download’ option.

Uploading

Uploading a file is as straightforward as dragging and dropping it into the shared-files window.

All content within this folder is accessible to every Tinker Box associated with your lab, making it an ideal space for collective resource sharing and data handling.

~/lab-data

The ~/lab-data directory is a read-only directory that serves as a centralized repository for each lab’s data. This ensures a consistent data environment across all Tinker Boxes in each lab.

Checking Available Tools and Samples in the Tinker Box

To explore the various tools and samples that are accessible to you in the Tinker box, you can use the following commands:

List Available Tools

To view a list of all the tools that you can use, enter the following command:

list_tools

List Available Samples

To view a list of samples that are available for you to work with, use the following command:

list_samples