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Best Embedded Linux Development Kits?

Posted by Cliff on from the what-would-you-recommend dept.

curious-embed asks: "I'm currently involved in a project which is moving towards using Linux in an embedded environment. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding a reasonably priced dev kit to tinker with and move towards something more production ready. Linuxdevices.com has a guide The Linux-friendly Embedded SBCs Quick Reference Guide but most of the listed manufacturers won't talk to you unless you are buying 100+ kits. I'm specifically looking for something ~$200 with USB/Audio/Video that is Linux friendly. Ideas anyone?"

4 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. minor endorsment. by |/rad|/oder · · Score: 1, Informative
    We use Technologic Systems 5300 series. It's a good little SBC, and they have expanded their line to the 5500 which has USB/PCMCIA goodies. They also have no problems selling individual dev kits.

    The provide a Linux distro for their devices which one of the engineers there rolled up from LFS. It works pretty well.

    just my 2 bits....

    --
    but then again, commenting on a katz story is almost as self-serving as the katz story itself. -tensionboy
  2. Pick up the O'Reilly book by raider_red · · Score: 2, Informative

    O'Reilly has a book out by Karim Yaghmour called "Building Embedded Linux Systems". (ISBN number: 0-596-00222-X) I'm about half way through it now, and it has answers to most of the stupid mistakes I made early on involving tool-chain setup. The book's worth the price just for that chapter.

    I'm also in the early stages of a project using Linux in an embedded system. I'll probably be going with either a PC/104 or ARM7 based solution.

    --
    It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
  3. Hollabaugh's book also has good hardware tips. by scootr1 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Here it is at Amazon.

  4. If you need everything like that.... by herrvinny · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you need USB, audio and video, just build a mini-itx computer. Cheap, small, and it's a fully functioning computer. The VIA EPIA 5000 is only 7 by 7 inches, pretty small, while it's bigger counterpart is still only a few inches bigger. Plus, you can get small cases, fairly cheap memory, optical drives like CD burners, DVD, etc, thin versions of the optical drives, hard drives, and more. If you need so much functionality, then mini-itx is better.


    If you're concerned about paying SCO's license fees ($32 for embedded devices, $699 for single CPU's), don't worry: that offer expired October 1. You're in the same boat as the rest of us, buddy!