For many time I wanted to learn to use EPF bu technical reasons always stoped me. Blame me because I'm not an Eclipse guy and I'm not into its eclipse-isms but until today I have not been able to launch it. Now, wirth this really simple recipe you'll be able to run it.

Initial technical scenario:

• Fedora 23 Linux, 64 bits
• Oracle Java 64 bits (using 1.8 from Russian Fedora)
• Last release of EPF (tested with 1.5.1.7)

Then unzip the file and execute:

$ unzip epf-composer-1.5.1.7-linux.zip
$ cd epf-composer
[epf-composer]$ ./epf
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM warning: You have loaded library /home/olea/epf-composer/plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher.gtk.linux.x86_1.1.2.R36x_v20101019_1345/eclipse_1310.so which might have disabled stack guard. The VM will try to fix the stack guard now.
It's highly recommended that you fix the library with 'execstack -c <libfile>', or link it with '-z noexecstack'.
(Epf:27092): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
(Epf:27092): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "pk-gtk-module"
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "canberra-gtk-module"

If you, like me, don't know nothing about Eclipse maybe you are doomed because the real problem is everything but clear. What you are having is the EPF application asking for a 32 bits java VM runtime. Nothing more, nothing less. But now is very easy to fix:

1. just get a 32 bits java VM
2. adjust epf-composer/epf.ini to use it

In my case I've installed a Java 1.7 (in my case from the same Russian Fedora repo):

$ sudo dnf install http://mirror.yandex.ru/fedora/russianfedora/russianfedora/nonfree/fedora/updates/23/x86_64/java-1.7.0-oracle-1.7.0.79-1.fc23.R.i586.rpm

and then change ~/epf-composer/epf.ini from this:

-data
@user.home/EPF/workspace.151
-vmargs
-Xms64m
-Xmx512m

to this:

-vm
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-oracle-1.7.0.79/jre/bin/java
-data
@user.home/EPF/workspace.151
-vmargs
-Xms64m
-Xmx512m

Please note the precise path may be different in your system but in any case it should point to a 32 bit java binary.

Then you just need to launch EPF and you are ready:

$ epf-composer/epf

Enjoy.

Con la excusa de participar en el Taller de nanotecnología casera organizado por MediaLab Prado, de la última visita en Madrid me traigo entre otras varias cosas: 
 

• conocer los trabajos de En-Te Hwu que han llevado a la creación de un microscopio de fuerza atómica de bajo coste y una alternativa OSS en desarrollo: OpenAFM;
• descubrir el alucinante proyecto de microscopio de barrido láser opensource de Raquel López, del cual espero ansioso novedades de las versiones más avanzadas;
• participar en la fundación del grupo de trabajo de Microscopía DIY creado en MediaLab Prado a consecuencia y por los participantes del taller impartido por En-Te;
• visitar por primera vez a los amigos del Makespace en Madrid, que es otro punto de encuentro de potencial BESTIAL;
• descubrir a la gente del BivosLab/Biocore, que están haciendo cosas que tal vez podamos aplicar también en el Club de Cacharreo;
• el agradable reencuentro con los amigos de MediaLab Prado, de los cuales cada vez soy más admirador y que utilizo como inspiración para construir el HackLab Almería;
• más equipos para la colección del museo de retroinformática (gracias Kix);
• tratos con la realeza (sí, realmente estoy en esa foto, con mi camiseta celeste) ZOMG;
• y hasta la petición de Jesús Cea de escribir mis experiencias «pastoreando los procomunes».

Un viaje preñado de... TODO.

Sólo como referencia, he encontrado esta publicación del ministerio de trabajo de los EEUU: May 2014 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates con las estadísticas de sueldos de las profesiones informáticas en ese país:

Occupation code	Occupation title (click on the occupation title to view its profile)	Level	Employment	Employment RSE	Employment per 1,000 jobs	Median hourly wage	Mean hourly wage	Annual mean wage	Mean wage RSE
11-3021	Computer and Information Systems Managers	detail	330360	0.8%	2,445	$61.37	$65.52	$136,280	0.4%
15-0000	Computer and Mathematical Occupations	major	3834180	0.5%	28,374	$38.18	$40.37	$83,970	0.5%
15-1100	Computer Occupations	minor	3692980	0.5%	27,329	$38.17	$40.31	$83,840	0.5%
15-1111	Computer and Information Research Scientists	detail	24210	4.2%	0,179	$52.09	$54.42	$113,190	1.4%
15-1120	Computer and Information Analysts	broad	608500	0.9%	4,503	$40.13	$42.25	$87,890	0.3%
15-1121	Computer Systems Analysts	detail	528320	0.9%	3,910	$39.76	$41.98	$87,320	0.4%
15-1122	Information Security Analysts	detail	80180	2.0%	0,593	$42.74	$44.04	$91,600	0.6%
15-1130	Software Developers and Programmers	broad	1492040	0.8%	11,042	$43.90	$45.81	$95,280	0.8%
15-1131	Computer Programmers	detail	302150	1.4%	2,236	$37.28	$39.75	$82,690	1.3%
15-1132	Software Developers, Applications	detail	686470	1.2%	5,080	$45.92	$47.85	$99,530	1.1%
15-1133	Software Developers, Systems Software	detail	382400	1.6%	2,830	$49.46	$50.98	$106,050	0.6%
15-1134	Web Developers	detail	121020	1.5%	0,896	$30.52	$33.02	$68,670	0.7%
15-1140	Database and Systems Administrators and Network Architects	broad	617680	0.6%	4,571	$38.87	$40.85	$84,970	0.2%
15-1141	Database Administrators	detail	112170	1.0%	0,830	$38.60	$39.56	$82,280	0.3%
15-1142	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	detail	365430	0.8%	2,704	$36.44	$38.35	$79,770	0.3%
15-1143	Computer Network Architects	detail	140080	1.4%	1,037	$47.32	$48.42	$100,710	0.4%
15-1150	Computer Support Specialists	broad	738030	0.7%	5,462	$24.22	$26.42	$54,960	0.3%
15-1151	Computer User Support Specialists	detail	563540	0.8%	4,170	$22.89	$24.76	$51,500	0.3%
15-1152	Computer Network Support Specialists	detail	174490	1.3%	1,291	$29.72	$31.80	$66,140	0.5%
15-1199	Computer Occupations, All Other	detail	212510	1.0%	1,573	$40.10	$41.12	$85,520	1.0%

Ojalá os sirvan.