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LinuxPDA EPOCH 32?
mindscream writes "I am starting a project to port Linux to the EPOCH 32 architecure which is what PSIONs amungst others use. I need information about what Linux needs to know from the boot loader and what it would usually need from the BIOS, or if you know a reason why what I intend to do is impossible please add your comment! There should be some info on my web site soon, ALSO I am looking for others who would like to help even if you only would like to beta test drop me a line! "
I am starting a project to port Linux to the Intel Pentium architecure which is what DELLs and GATEWAYs amungst others use.
I haven't done any research on the subject so far and am also ignorant if it has been done already, but never mind.
I need information about what Linux needs to know from the serial mouse and what it would usually need from the keyboard, or if you know a reason why what I intend to do is impossible please add your comment!
A project that is worth pursuing without reinventing the wheel would be to fix the ARLO boot loader so that it works on the OS5 release of EPOC/32 used in the Series 5MX, Series 7, Revo, and NetBook computers. Because of substantial device driver changes in this release, ARLO doesn't work any more and some porting work is required.
Looks like it, the fron screen isn't refreshing anyway.
-- Hulver's site
The Calcaria Linux project already boots linux on the psion series 5. I'd have tested it, but I'm lazy. ;) Also, I can't quite understand the use of linux on this device. The Epoc32 operating system already interfaces with the touch screen, which Linux doesn't (yet.) Epoc32 has a lot of very useful apps built in, that the Linux command-line would have trouble replacing... and I hardly see the advantage of running Linux /and/ and X server on the palmtop, just to replace the word processor that Epoc already provided in the rom. The file management is well-enough thought out that you don't need to do anything through the command line (no, not that linux console is only command-line-based, but that midnight commander won't do a better job than epoc's file manager.)
The one advantage of Linux that I can see is the interfacing. if you were running linux on the palmtop and on the desktop, you could do nfs over the serial port for easy backups and access to data like that *snaps fingers*
In fact, that's the one thing I regret about the psion- it doesn't have any easy way to access the gigs of data I have on my hard drive. Granted, I've got desktop apps for that, but it'd be /kinda/ cool to have the interoperability in both directions :)
anyway, sorry for the rant...
It'd take a lot of convincing for me to get involved with helping someone:
1. Who can't spell EPOC.
2. Who doesn't know that EPOC is the OS, not the hardware platform - the platform is an ARM chip.
3. Who doesn't know that someone's already got Linux running on a couple of the Psion units.
Open source doesn't mean "I propose something and thousands of people do it". It means "I do my own research, and I get something going, and people get involved then."
My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
It's an admirable aim, but... a) it's already being worked on - the project was started, IIRC, by Ed Bailey of Redhat, and b) It's EPOC32, not EPOCH32. :-)
For those Psion S5/5mx/7/Revo/netBook and Ericsson MC218 users who read slashdot, check out epoczone.com (freshmeat-like) and epocnews.com (/.-like). :-)
Jon.This post number #13 (can't get the URL to work) talks about the port, already, back then.
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Come on moderators, this is pretty funny.
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I've seen a few pretty bad stories posted on Slashdot befoer, but this is.. well.. embarrassing.
Before you even consider a port of Linux to another architecture, it might be good if you had a little look at the source, and did one or two web searches.
As for the story.. well it has been pointed out that there are already ports running.
Guess what a search on linux EPOC port on www.google.com turned up?
Calcaria Linux7k
...running on the 5mx, but changes in the EPOC OS mean that our boot loader,...
...a project to port the unix-like operating system Linux to a small...
www.calcaria.net/ Cached (5k) New! Try out GoogleScout
Calcaria Linux7k
...the EPOC operating system, since it will be replaced by Linux....
...the Linux 7k project. A series of developers have set out to port...
www.calcaria.net/engppro.html Cached (15k) New! Try out GoogleScout
As the first two results. Cliff, normally your stories are good. It would take two seconds. Enough said.
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Ports of the linux kernal to Psion are relatively useless... If you really want a linux-based palmtop, then, pitch your idea to venture capitalists, and design one that is really useful, because, as far as I know, EPOC32 is a very easy to use/quick/simple Operating system for these systems.
Another great project could be to create a Linux clone of Psi-Win, that would be useful.
If I've offended anyone over this, then I am Sorry, Linux is a great OS, on desktops/workstations/servers/etc. but on palmtops it will need a lot of work before it will be a viable option, and frankly, it would be a more useful expenditure of all of our time, to make the current options (PalmOS, and EPOC32) Syncronize, etc, with Linux. Lots of people use these devices, the operating systems work fine, and these people would have one less reason to not use linux if they can sync up these devices quickly and easily.
Oh, and you really don't need a Beowulf of these things.
Just a Rant people...
Opinionated Law Student Strikes Again!
http://www.gumbley.demon.co.uk/psion-c.html has some psion/linux related material from people working on the psion-c project.
/. story:
h tml
Also check out previous
http://slashdot.org/articles/99/09/16/2354216.s
Which has a few threads about running linux on it. I can't see any reason why not, you can get it running on nokia phones and palms, and there is very little technical reason why it wouldn't that I can think of. Keep us posted!
The Linux7k Project is already working on a port to the Series 5. I've had Linux booting on my Psion before, but it's not very usable. They're after help on the Series 5mx if anyone's interested.
PigPog.
I am currently working on a port of Linux to the Sinclair ZX81. I am not sure if this has been attempted before, but as I have not done much research on the topic, I don't know. If you can help me with any details, such as what Linux might need from the cassette player or the toilet roll printer, please add your comments. Also, if you have any reason why you think what I intend to do is impossible, please let me know.
Given there is already a 'working proof of concept' at http://www.calcaria.net/ for what you want to do, a NetBSD/Linux CE project, and a few others I don't know about, your time would be better spent thinking small apps.
NO ONE TO DATE (pubically) is thinking about the address books, e-mail, calander, find, word processor, spreadsheet, web browser, encryption, sync utility (My little 4 meg of DRAM handheld has all of these features...+TCP/IP and 20 megs of FLASH storage for data...and plays quicktime-esque video with sound) to big brother (Desktop, not Big Brother) versions of the same utilites. Oh, and a TCP/IP (or serial/IR) based link to the handheld from the desktop so from your main machine keyboard/screen is an extension of the handheld world.
Think of the poor 16 megs of handheld DRAM, and the lack of a hard drive. Then, think of the gnome or KDE app you use as a address book/email. Can you shoe-horn your favorite apps into 16 meg, with no hard drive? (Like that PostgreSQL backend for the app....exactly HOW are you going to get that on your handheld?)
(If I could find the link, I'd post it for the 'replace X on handhelds with this graphics model' effort.)
And, without a set of apps, no one is going to use ANY OpenSource kernel on a handheld. Because its the app space that makes the kernel useful.
And I see no evidence of any of the 'productivity apps' I listed above thinking about what needs to be done to have small memory footprint, remote-linking, or much else that is important for the handheld market.
If you are looking for a project, why not spend time thinking or talking to the designers of the productivity apps to start thinking and designing for small-space apps, and linking to small memory space apps.
If it was said on slashdot, it MUST be true!
The link on the front page blurb leads to http://www.cubicle2.freeserve.oc.uk/ which should be http://www.cubicle2.freeserve.co.uk/ -AC