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LinuxBIOS Gets GUI

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-isn't-that-pretty dept.

LWATCDR writes "Has a great write up on combining LinuxBios a Linux kernel, busybox, X, a window manager, and rxvt into a two meg flash chip. So what does get you? A six second boot time for one. All sorts of uses come to mind. Terminals to use with the Linux Terminal server. A very fast booting embedded system like a Car computer. With every one pushing for multi-core cpus, mega gigabyte drives and many gigabytes of ram it is interesting to see how small you can go."

7 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Impressive, but unnecessary by ArcherB · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While the X server was quite cool, I don't see what functionality it can bring at this stage of the game. I want to see a Linux BIOS that works for my hardware that allows me all the features of my existing BIOS. If you can do that with X, great! But right now, I want function over form. A text base menu like what I have now would be fine.

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    1. Re:Impressive, but unnecessary by Kazoo+the+Clown · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Yes, though I'd be interested in some HOWTO regarding putting bootable Linux in a BIOS chip that doesn't include X11, but basic SVGAlib or even headless and the ability to insert some custom applications. I'd like to turn some old diskless PC hardware and a vid capture card into an IP cam with some custom security functions...

      The OP leads me to believe it's possible.

      I've got an old PROM/PIC burner that I could dust off, now I wonder if that could be used to burn some BIOS chips with this sort of thing. Time to take another look at the Linux BIOS project...

  2. Re:Two megs? by vidarh · · Score: 4, Interesting
    You do realize there's more than one X server out there, don't you?

    For example, Xvnc only takes about 800KB compressed. Yes, it doesn't display, but bolting a framebuffer driver onto it would only take a few KB - in fact you could fit both Xvnc and a full featured vnc client into less than 1MB. There are at least a few small "proper" X servers (that drives a display instead of keeping it's own frame buffer) out there that would fit in 2MB too - I only mentions Xvnc since that's the only one I happen to have installed.

  3. Re:Embedded linux by jimstapleton · · Score: 2, Interesting

    No, that would only happen if you got it to install on your bed.

    So far, I've only gotten NetBSD to do that... Right after I installed it on my toaster, and before I installed it on my electric can opener.

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  4. FBUI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Ahh...but then there's also FBUI, which is a full blown GUI system that runs as an in kernel module (~50k). Has some light weight libraries for interfacing with it. Would save tons more room than kdrive with all this other stuff. No networkable hooks though

  5. Re:Good to see by ThogScully · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The initial OpenMokos have just shipped to developers. They'll hopefully be more generally available toward the end of this year. I'm excited to get one as soon as I can, and no I'm not affiliated with them - I just think they are doing some awesome work.
    -N

    http://www.openmoko.com/

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  6. Re:How small? Gavin's 3721 byte OS! by KlaymenDK · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In 2004, Gavin Barraclough wrote an OS (from scratch) in only 3721 bytes:

    "This is a 32-bit multitasking operating system for x86 computers, with GUI and filesystem, support for loading and executing user applications in elf binary format, with ps2 mouse and keyboard drivers, and vesa graphics. And a command shell. And an application - a simple text-file viewer."

    Granted, it may not be the must useful (or maintainable!) OS ...

    http://www.de.ioccc.org/years.html#2004_gavin

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