Hi, Is the kernel from FriendlyArm delivered with the mini2440 based on Debian? or is it EmDebian ? If not, what "kind" of linux is it ? I'm trying to learn and many info I find on the net refers to files or things that don't appear on my mini2440. I guess that's because it's an embedded version but if I know from which distro it's based on, it would help me a lot. Thanks
it is what is called a "botched" base. someone goes and downloads the linux kernel, then goes through making changes and botches to get it working on some hardware. They then "package " it up as linux 2.6.xxxx , ensuring they give it EXACTLY the same name as existing linux source. The "correct way" is to take the kernel , apply the mods "privately" and produce a DIFF file. Diff files are amazing things......, because you can apply them to almost ANY future linux kernel and chances are you can have a fully working kernel , but it will be a later revision with lots of previous bugs fixed. Also diff files are WAY smaller and help prevent people sneaking in malicious code, because they are very easy to Q.A (with git, they are also tagged, so you can ensure they are based on valid kernels) All "distros" are usually the base kernel with a standard diff file for that distro applied.
But diffs don't work on every kernel source (if big changes were made). So the best is to download archives of already existing projects (there are a few ports for mini2440 - just look around) and cross compile yourself or let another one do it for you.
Thanks for your answers, this lights my lantern a bit. I saw some ports for ARM and sometimes specifically for mini2440. Any suggestions of a good but simple embedded linux distro that would suit the execution of a Qt GUI ? I had a look at Angstrom linux but it seems very complicated to configure. Thanks again for taking the time to answer.
I will try to get the newest Qt with a customized GUI working for my mini2440 project. Maybe I will upload it to the git repository too. I have planned to use my mini2440 beside many other purposes as a stream player for e.g. online radio stations and as NAS system (the kernel in my git repository also has NTFS read and write support build-in with standard configuration).
Hi Jay, Actually I am developping a GUI under Qt myself right now and it's pretty good stuff. The only hard thing is no low cost live JTAG debugger solution under linux. I am working on a home automation console with mini2440. It's working pretty good but crashes for an unknown reason when external telnet link session is closed... I still have a lot to learn. When you talk about the git repository, what are you referring to ? Do you have some kind of walkthrough to get and install your kernel ? Thanks.
Hey, great that youre active in developing a GUI because I know that it would be useful for all of us :) You maybe could try to compile, debug and install directly on the mini2440. I think its the best if you use a debian as distribution because then youre able to directly use APT (the best package management system I know) on your board and thats more than comfortable. I prefere to debug and compile by using a cross-compiler toolchain on one of my i686 machines. Oh, I forgot to post the link to the Git repository I mean: http://git.programmers-projects.de (for read-only access - for write access you could ask). You can get there a .tar.gz snapshot of complete git trees too but I would suggest to learn how to use Git correctly because it is the actual and well-known repository/version management system at the moment - svn and cvs left behind. I also like it more than all the other ones. (Kernel-)Cross-Compilation HowTo's you can found in a big amount on the internet (google is your friend ;) ) Regards
Jay, Thanks for taking the time to explain. I will absolutely go forward with the debian distro. I just bought another mini2440 so I can experiment without crashing my other one which I use for developping my app. I guess it's going to be easier learning linux too with a "better" distribution ! I'll keep posting. Cheers !