GNU/Linux Running On An 8-Bit Processor 361
dartttt writes, quoting Ubuntu Vibe: "Dmitry Grinberg has successfully booted Ubuntu 9.04 on an 8 bit micro machine with 6.5 KHz CPU and 16 MB RAM. Grinberg did this experiment on a ATmega1284p, 8-bit RISC microcontroller clocked at 24MHz and equipped with 16KB of SRAM and 128KB of flash storage. Since the RAM was too low, he added 30-pin 16MB SIMM to the machine and a 1 GB SD card to host Ubuntu image. ... To get the world's slowest Linux Computer running, he had to write an ARMv5 emulator which supports a 32bit processor and MMU. A similar machine can be made very easily and everything should come in about $20."
There is source code available, but it's under a non-commercial use only license. Just how slow is it? "It takes about 2 hours to boot to bash prompt ('init=/bin/bash' kernel command line). Then 4 more hours to boot up the entire Ubuntu ('exec init' and then login). Starting X takes a lot longer. The effective emulated CPU speed is about 6.5KHz, which is on par with what you'd expect emulating a 32-bit CPU & MMU on a measly 8-bit micro. Curiously enough, once booted, the system is somewhat usable. You can type a command and get a reply within a minute." If you like watching a whole lot of nothing, there's a video of the boot process below the fold.
Re:Ultimate tech hipsters (Score:4, Funny)
You mean, you bought the latest nokia?
Reminder: this is /. , all people will want to know is: but does it run linux. Since your nokia apparently is unable to do so, this article proves the 8-bit processor superior.
Have a nice day.
Sometime tomorrow... (Score:5, Funny)
They'll submit "FIRST POST"
We could ... (Score:5, Funny)
But does it run... (Score:5, Funny)
...oh wait, I see what you did there.
DMV (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why? (Score:5, Funny)
Just ignore the trolls. ;)
"Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?"
"Because it's there" ~ George Mallory
Re:I'm almost scared to ask (Score:5, Funny)
If your hobby is 'waiting for stuff to happen', then this is a great project to undertake.
Re:My 0.02 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ultimate tech hipsters (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Why? (Score:5, Funny)
He was waiting for his Raspberry Pi to arrive, so had time to kill.
Re:Why? (Score:5, Funny)
Interesting project, BTW.