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GNU/Linux Running On An 8-Bit Processor
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.
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.
They'll submit "FIRST POST"
Have gnu, will travel.
...oh wait, I see what you did there.
coding is life
Let me guess, the DMV ordered 1000 copies..?
Just ignore the trolls. ;)
"Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?"
"Because it's there" ~ George Mallory
If your hobby is 'waiting for stuff to happen', then this is a great project to undertake.
A witty saying proves you are wittier than the next guy.
I do plenty of other things (flying planes, collecting speeding tickets, etc). This was just for fun. And it was quite fun. I never expected it to be fast enough to use, and am still quite amazed that it is usable (for some definitions of "usable")
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1. Enjoy your job
2. Make lots of money
3. Work within the law
Choose any two.
I design musical synthesizers using Atmega MCUs. They work really well as controllers in price-sensitive consumer applications, but booting linux on one is about as sensible as fixing your car with a spoon.
He was waiting for his Raspberry Pi to arrive, so had time to kill.
And waiting for 4 hours for ubuntu to boot solved that? ;)
Interesting project, BTW.
weinersmith