Lineo 1.0 Eor Embedded x86 Released 70
Snarfvs Maximvs wrote to us with the news Lineo's Embedix Linux 1.0 for embedded x86 devices is out, with a distribution ready for download. One of the areas of interest is the WinCE compatibility layer that's currently in development - anyone know anything more about that? And what's going to happen now that Transmeta's "Mobile Linux" is out and about as well as Lineo?
Re:Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
As for stability, I've had few problems with the Nino. It hardly locks up (maybe once every two months), and when it has locked up I've been able to reset and not lose any information. I'm not sure how this compares to a Palm as I've not used one for extended periods of time.
Developing for WinCE is nice, too. Again, I've no idea how this compares to Palm development as I've not used it. I've talked to people who've done both, and the consensus is that WinCE is a nicer platform to develop for than Palm.
Anyway, just my 2 cents on the whole matter.
Embedix 1.0 for PowerPC (Score:1)
Do you have to install this or can you "borrow" someones mac?
How does this compare to QNX? I would hope it has at least telnet, and the ability to run remote X apps.
Ahh, sweet irony (Score:1)
That's in the spirit of the GPL, not this "request real nice and we'll think about it" email stuff.
Hey, it could be worse. It could be Slashdot co-founder Rob Malda (CmdrTaco) telling you, as he told the rest of the Slashdot audience about two weeks ago, "I delay the release by 24 hours each time someone asks me when a new Slash tarball will be out."
Sorry, but it had to be said. :-)
Cheers,
ZicoKnows@hotmail.com
Re:PalmOS compatibility would be better... (Score:1)
But, I don't know, it's not quite as bad if you
use the basic things that you get. If you begin
downloading programs and what-not, it becomes a
real pain.
Re:WinCE compatability, why? (Score:1)
I don't think you really understand the concept of an embedded OS. The idea is you can put a little portable OS into virtually any piece of hardware (car, tv, toaster, etc..). this is one place where CE does very well. it's a well designed modern OS with a lot of Win32 compatibly. It can run DirectX (i.e. dreamcast), SQL Server, IIS and pretty much anything else. Also it is easy to develop for; you can write apps in VB, MS C++, etc..
Linux is also well suited in this position; typically in the world of computers "there can be only one(tm)", it will be interesting to see what happens.
-Jon
Re:Here's the score card... (Score:1)
Re:WinCE compatability, why? (Score:1)
Also it is easy to develop for
Sorry, to disappoint you - but writing embedded operating systems is my day time job, and I've been developing on Windows CE until my former employer (Ericsson) said "Windows CE no more" .. :)
No way Windows CE is easy to develop for, or for that matter, a modern well-thought out operating system.
Re:Ahh, sweet irony (Score:1)
They are not allowed to keep other people's code secret as it is just that - other people's code.
Re:Here's the score card... (Score:1)
I dont know that much about it but it looks to not have a gui. The min requirements are 386SX, 2mbDram, 2mb of solidstate disk. This was designed for eurotech's pc104 devices but does not look to be held to that.
Slightly OT Amusement (Score:1)
Re:Hrm... portability (Score:1)
wince does run natively on the x86. many embedded devices (set-top boxes, winterms) use wince. i have seen several winterm-type systems running wince and the wince citrix ica client on a cyrix mediagx. the capio from boundless technolgy is a good example of this.
Re:off the shelf embedded x86 designs (Score:1)
There is a lot of life left in these existing designs, and people are going to need a reason to change.
On the topic of mini-gui (Score:1)
Ooops (Score:2)
I ment to hit "preview"... there isn't any way to modify one's commets, is there?
Anyway "Dinix" should be "DinX", and here's the description from the 0.2.2 announcement on linux-fbdev:
Full anouncement here [mail-archive.com] .
Re:Here's the score card... (Score:3)
Don't forget these as well:
ET-Linux [prosa.it] - Runs on embedded x86 systems, and really IS meant for small, embedded systems (eg. little to no security). glibc2.1/kernel 2.0.38. Used with an ADC card to acquire data in the astrophysics lab where I work. It'll fit nicely in a 6MB flash chip.
TINY Linux [seul.org] - Really meant for recycling old 386s, works in an embedded environment without too much work. A full install with X takes around 80MB, but you can pare it down to 10-20. Based on libc5, though, so watch out when compiling new packages.
MicroLinux [linux.hr] - I haven't used this one, nor do I read Russian (which the page is in), but I've heard that it works and has a very small installed footprint.
MuLinux [sunsite.auc.dk] - An Italian distro, still in development, major feature of which is the ability to live in a ramdisk on a computer with only 4MB of ram, if I understand correctly what I've read about it. (Haven't actually used this one either.)
I'll tell you why!!! (Score:1)
After having my HP-Omnigo die a couple of years ago I wanted to buy a PDA... I was looking at the available choices back then:
-PSION: No retailers to be seen, would've been my choice based on their OS alone.
-Apple Newton: Loved it, hated it's price, could've carried it on my bag with no problems, damn you Apple for letting it die...
-Palm: WHAT??? Only 512K of RAM? WTF? Graffitti? (It was included on the Omnigo too so I was comfortable with it)
-WindowsCE: Hated them, but had better hardware and a lot of potential. I even admit that WinCE wasn't too bad compared to Windoze...
So considering my primary uses (Note Taker, PIM and Terminal -- YES!!! You can program a cisco router with an H/PC and still look totally k3wl in the process) I decided to buy a WinCE machine (A cassiopeia A-20) until it died of abuse last year, then the Palm was a better choice (PSION wasn't anywhere to be seen in the retail stores) but damn its price... it was excessive... if Handspring would've been out then... things could've been different.
have no idea what WinCE devices are like compared to Palms on a hardware level, but I would bet that Palms are more reliable
Not a matter of reliability but of horsepower... WinCE Machines have better hardware because they have to run that bloated piece of crap called WinCE at a decent speed... most have >60MHz RISC processors (MIPS R3000/4000 variants, ARM?StrongARM and Hitachi SHx), color displays and lots of nifty stuff... only problem??? The OS
That's why I'm working to port Linux to my Philips Nino 210 because the HW is beautyful and strong and the posibilities of running a decent OS on it (And be able to synch it with Linux) are great...
And Linux on WinCE machines has more potential than on the Dreamcast... just ask all the WinCE companies that have quit the market recently
ZoeSch
Re:Here's the score card... (Score:1)
Re:Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
>is a nicer platform to develop for than Palm.
It may be a nicer environment, but AFAIK, it's not as
accessable (cheap
IIRC, Palm development uses free GNU tools, while
Wince requires $500+ worth of compilers and tools[1]
(Not to mention NT, if you want to use the emulator)...
I have an older Wince device and I'd love to play
around with it, but being a broke college student,
I just can't afford the 'MS Tax'.
But I might be wrong about all this...
(And if I am, tell me! I'd like to hack on these things!)
[1] Visual C++ 6.x ($300?), WinCE Dev Kit ($200?)
=-=-=-=-=-=
"...You and me baby ain't nothin' but mammals/
so let's do it like they do on the Discovery channel..."
Re:Here's the score card... (Score:1)
Target 32-Bit x86 requires about a 200Kb... No GUI though, but is 'in-the-making'
Website + download [v2.nl]
OT: No native crusoe apps ever (Score:1)
Mobile Linux (Score:1)
See this post [deja.com] from the Main Man.
Re:gpl? (Score:2)
Re:gpl? (Score:1)
Cool! All source rpm's...
Heck, it's just cool to see the list of programs they're cramming into this.
It doesn't look like a bad start for a root/boot disk.
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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
Re:WinCE compatability, why? (Score:1)
Microsoft's Windows CE Page [microsoft.com]
Re:Mobile Linux != Lineo 1.0? (Score:1)
ie. the same binaries will work on a normal x86 box as well as a crusoe machine.
gpl? (Score:2)
on the website, it said to mail embedix-support@lineo.com to get the source. i mailed that address with a request for source a few minutes after i downloaded the binaries on friday, and have yet to recieve a reply. ymmv.
The actual press release (Score:4)
Mobile Linux != Lineo 1.0? (Score:1)
WinCE compatability, why? (Score:2)
Palm has a huge momentum in the US, and in Europe there's no doubt that Symbian will rule the smartphone and handheld market completely. Looking at their website they have special made versions of the OS for many screen sizes and devices. It's only a question of _when_ those things will appear on the market. To get a brief hint on what's to come, look at how many awars the Psion [psion.com] Revo has won!
It will be very interesting to see an OS not really made to work on small devices compete in this arena. WinCE failed badly - PalmOS is doing quite well even though it's hardly a real OS, and the Symbian OS has been tailor made by first Psion and now Symbian since many many years for exactly this ...
Yeah, I have devices with WinCE, PalmOS and the Symbian OS ;) The MC218 (by Ericsson [ericsson.com]) is the one I use for my daily work ...
Hrm... (Score:3)
I can't really see this getting that much market acceptance over the Embedded Linux that comes strait from linus for the Crusoe. I suppose there's a large market for 386's and stuff though.
A smart thing for Caldera to do would be to port there "CE compatibility layer" to Embedded Linux on the Crusoe, that would enable them to cash in on there hard work and still be useable in a Transmeta world (depending on whether or not Transmeta succeeds).
Oh well, its nice to see Linux getting a hold on the embedded market.
[ c h a d o k e r e ] [iastate.edu]
Re:Hrm... portability (Score:1)
of course, it's not clear if crusoe can run apps for several different cpus at once. if not, then porting the ce compatibility layer might have some value. it may also have some usefulness if the source is released, as that would be a very attractive path for companies looking to move away from wince, or who do not want to pay m$ huge licensing fees.
Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
PS- Linux on a Dreamcast, though... drool... (still, little commercial value. Damn!)
Should be interesting... (Score:2)
Also, some of this code might be handy for making a modern version of Linux that runs well on old computers without that much RAM. (yeah, yeah, yeah, 386 with 4MB RAM. Of course it's possible, but have you tried it lately? I wouldn't mind a distro that made it easier.)
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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
A little off topic, but... (Score:1)
Re:WinCE compatability, why? (Score:1)
Re:Mobile Linux != Lineo 1.0? (Score:2)
Re:When Can We Expect a Reply from VA Linux? (Score:1)
Re:Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
Well, if you're a student, there are educational discounts. VC++ Pro for $100, and that's with a copy of NT. I'm not sure what VC++ for CE goes for under educational pricing, but it can't be much.
Of course, free tools cost less than cheap tools, and it is a shame that there aren't alternative development environments for CE.
Re:Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
Frighteningly enough, Microsoft has been promoting Windows CE as a viable operating system for *embedded systems*... and this is what Lineo is targeting. There are a number of manufacturers our there that sell WinCE-ready PC-104 boards... This is the market Lineo's going after.
Re:Should be interesting... (Score:1)
Which distro did you try to install? Some linux distros, like Small Linux [netpedia.net], claim to be able to do what you want.
I've got a 286 that I tried running ELKS on, and... well, it's *really* not ready for prime time. And I wouldn't want to do any real work on minix, either. No, I'd probably run DOS--try to get the Second Reality demo looping on it instead.
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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
On Lineo, Embedix Linux, and GPL (Score:2)
the license, but I will point out a few parts for those who haven't yet:
In the first paragraph of the license it states:
"Any product provided along with the Software that is associated with a
separate end-user license agreement is licensed to you under the terms of
that license agreement."
Also, later in the license it says:
"GPL Software" is not owned by Lineo and is distributed to you by Lineo
for your use. GPL Software is distributed under the terms of the GNU
General Public License, Version 2, June 1991, a copy of which accompanies
this EULA"
and:
"Lineo will provide source code for any of the components of the Software
licensed under the GNU General Public License. To obtain such source code,
send email to embedix-support@lineo.com"
Unfortunately, the mail account for embedix-support@lineo.com was unmanned
yesterday and today. However, we are actively working on manning it and making the source code available on our FTP site. This will be in the
form of Source RPM files. I am leaving town tonight, but it should happen
in my absence, sometime this week.
In general, Embedix Linux consists of software which comes under a variety
of licenses (including GPL, Artistic, BSD, and Lineo's own EULA). Our
intent is to comply fully with all the different licenses (and have the
EULA act as a boilerplate for the whole collection). So, in answer to
an obvious question: "Can I take Embedix Linux and copy the whole thing
freely?", the answer is No. However, you CAN take the GPL parts and
redistribute them as per the GPL.
Lineo is very committed to GPL, including funding of OpenSource
activities, and direct development on several GPL components
(for example, see http://busybox.lineo.com/)
Transmeta's Mobile Linux not a "distribution" (Score:1)
Re:Eor (Score:1)
Re:gpl? (Score:3)
However, if they gave you the binaries, and there's GPLed code in there, they owe you the source. So we'll see how this goes. (Please, not another lawsuit! I'd love to test the GPL, but...)
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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
Lineo vs. Mobile Linux (Score:2)
However, Lineo *does* face competition from RTLinux, uClinux and eCos. And they've been around a little longer than Lineo. But certainly this is good news for us embedded developers. Having more options is always better and Lineo seems at first glance to be an attractive one. I'll be giving it a closer look for sure.
Re:Eor (Score:2)
Re:Hrm... portability (Score:1)
I'm also not sure where the licensing fees come into play. I do a bit of development under WinCE in my spare time, and I only had to pay for the CE toolkit (under $200, iirc). For a company planning on developing WinCE apps that's not much of a hurdle.
Just my 2 cents, as always.
Re:Why WinCE compatability? (Score:1)
Yeah, about as useful as McNealy's Java rings, coffemakers (which don't work), toilet seats...
Re:Hrm... portability (Score:1)
Hrm, but you'd still need to licens the OS from MS. If caldera can price there CE compatiblity layer cheaper, then they'll be set. Windows 98 runs on x86 to, but that dosn't mean your standard linux box can run win32 apps. You need somthing like wine to do it.
[ c h a d o k e r e ] [iastate.edu]
Minix (Score:1)
386 users, though, might find VsTA [zendo.com] more powerful and useful.
~~~~~~~~~
auntfloyd
Re:GPL + Pricing? (Score:1)
"the software may not be redistributed without
paying a royalty"
that's kind of annoying - even mirror archives
aren't allowed to redistribute it
-jason
Re:Minix (Score:1)
Hadn't heard of VsTA... Support for SMP? Hmm...
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pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
Re:On Lineo, Embedix Linux, and GPL (Score:1)
Re:Mobile Linux != Lineo 1.0? (Score:1)
Here's the score card... (Score:3)
Targets 32-bit x86 and PowerPC systems, requires 8mb RAM and 3mb ROM. Based on Linux 2.2 kernel, includes own GUI.
Mobile Linux -- by Transmeta
Not much detail available as to requirements, but seems to be targeted for fairly beefy hardware relative to a PDA.
ELKS (Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset) -- by independent hackers
Targets 8088/8086 x86 processors. Requires up to 640k of RAM. Linux-like, but not Linux proper. Doesn't include a GUI (see NanoGUI below).
NanoGUI -- by independent hackers
Based on the old "mini-x" released for Minix. Mini-x ran under 8086es, but whether NanoGUI retains that capability is hard to find out (please enlighten me!). If it does, it's the natural choice to add to ELKS for a ultralightweight 16-bit "Linux".
Steven E. Ehrbar
GPL + Pricing? (Score:2)
Also, does anyone know the pricing for royalties/licensing?
PalmOS compatibility would be better... (Score:1)
Of course... there already is a Linux for the Pilot...
Convergeance? (Score:1)
-Lineo
"Yes, we must combine efforts to quash the heavy hand of Redmond!"
-Lord Linus of Transmeta
"You fools! You think your puny OpenSource movement will shake our ground? HA!"
-Gates of Borg
"Prepare to meet your wrath, Gates of Borg..."
-OpenSource Community
/ k.d / earth trickle / Monkeys vs. Robots Films [xoom.com] /
Re:gpl? (Score:2)
The strange thing here is they know full well about the GPL (some people are just ignorant), as their own license refers to GPLed code that they use in their software, and explicitly directs source code requests to their embedix-support email address. Now that's perfectly within the legal boundaries of the GPL, but it seems a bit outside of the spirit of things, given how easy it is to just put the damn source up on their website.