Slashdot Mirror
NetBSD on StrongARM Handhelds
sparcv9 writes "The
NetBSD Team announced today the offical start of the
NetBSD/hpcarm
port of their multi-platform OS. This port runs on
StrongARM-based handheld PCs. So far, the HP
Jornada 720 and the Compaq
iPAQ H3600 are supported. With this port hot on the heels of the
SH3/4-based hpcsh
port and last year's
MIPS-based hpcmips
port, it looks like NetBSD could give Linux a run for its money in the
handheld arena."
http://www.netbsd.org/Goals/portability.html
http://www.netbsd.org/Goals/system.html
To conclude, it's not as much work to add a port as one might think, and except in the (less common) cases of working with MD code, you improve one port and you improve them all.
-bugg
"things like server-class stability are largely irrelevant"
:).
You couldn't be more wrong. Nobody wants to reset their palm PC and lose all their data. Typically the software on this type of machines is running continually. The machine is suspended rather than turned off. Because of this, stability is a very strong requirement.
Another important requirement that is also associated with BSD is security. Consider the following scenario: I walk into the office of my companies largest competitor. I'm carrying a PDA containing very sensitive data. The PDA is equiped with a bluetooth chip (high bandwidth) and I turn the thing on to make notes in my agenda. Tell me security is not important here
All I'm trying to say here is that some of the qualities that make BSD so suitable for servers are also required in a PDA.
Of course there are some limitations as well (memory, speed), but then pda's are generally equiped with faster processors and more memory than some PC's still running BSD in many offices.
As for world domination of the OS. That is an old centralistic view of world. In the modern view a hetrogenous network of all sorts of devices and services replaces it. The OS kernel is pretty much irrelevant as long as the programs running on top of it behave well and follow industry standards. I don't care whether slashdot runs on IIS or Apache, as long as I get the content in a reasonable time I'm happy.
Jilles
But I don't understand why we need more than one Unix.
BSD was around before Linux. So using your logic, tell me again why Linux should exist. Why is choice among different operating systems a good thing according to you, yet choice among different Unix operating systems a bad thing? Because it splits development efforts you say. So I guess choices among licenses for developers is bad according to you also? So much for your "...choice is a good thing."
[hypothetical]
I don't understand Ford. No part of it. I don't understand why we need more than one american motor company. Its not like the american motor industry doesn't have enemies. Yes choice is a good thing. People can already choose between Chevrolet and Toyota. We could make Chevrolet a stronger choice, or we could make the two american car companies weaker choices.
[/hypothetical]
Understand now? Probably not. At least understand this: don't dicatate to me which Unix to use or develop for, no matter for whatever noble reason. For you to do so would be no better than Microsoft dictating to me which version of Windows to use. Its the very same mentality, and to see it expressed by open-source advocates saddens me.
- Ports are relatively easy and mechanical to do
- It opens the platform to a variety of applications
- It generates "cross pollination" of ideas.
- It gives consumer choice
Generally, the big benefit to this will be the broadening of the application base. Further, it will allow the Linux / NetBSD ports to compare against each other leading to innovation and performance tuning.A good thing.
.. if only.