Open Source Engineering with Linux & GNU

STMicroelectronics speaker at SHARE on-line event

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on March 19, 2010 2:05 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

We're happy to promote this one - a SHARE SIG on-line event. The organisation's slogan is 'Improving European Embedded System Industry through Open Source SW Sharing'.

On the 22nd of March 2010, at 11 (GMT +1) it will be hosting the 'Open Source Software and enterprises: the Bellagio story'. The main speaker is Giulio Urlini from STMicroelectronics, and the abstract is:

Continue reading STMicroelectronics speaker at SHARE on-line event.

MathWorks aims tools at embedded Linux

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on March 17, 2010 11:18 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The MathWorks has announced the latest release of its MATLAB and Simulink product families, writes Richard Wilson, which include new streaming capabilities for signal processing and video processing in MATLAB and nonlinear solvers for standard and large-scale optimisation.

Release 2010a also introduces Simulink PLC Coder, which helps industrial control system engineers generate IEC 61131 structured text.

This release updates 83 other products, including PolySpace code verification products.

Continue reading MathWorks aims tools at embedded Linux.

Cell processor programming simplified by Linux tool

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on March 15, 2010 4:05 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Codeplay's Offload programming tool suite is available for the development of software for Cell Broadband Engine powered devices running under Linux, writes Electronincs Weekly editor Richard Wilson.

The Offload tool suite provides a Windows-based GCC SDK so that code can be offloaded to the SPUs on the Cell Broadband Engine.

Continue reading Cell processor programming simplified by Linux tool.

Google carries Open Source flag against Apple

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on February 22, 2010 8:48 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

An interesting post on the 451 Group blog, on how Google has seemingly become the de-facto standard bearer for more open alternatives when Apple leads the way.

He considers the case of the iPad (left), and how Google's response will be centred on Chrome (via the open source project Chromium).

Continue reading Google carries Open Source flag against Apple.

Moblin + Maemo = MeeGo

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on February 15, 2010 3:13 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Codename overload alert. Intel and Nokia are merging their respective Linux based systems, Moblin and Maemo, to create MeeGo. Read the full story.

The new open source platform is intended to create a "unified" Linux platform that will run on multiple hardware platforms, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems.

"Our vision for seamlessly communicating between computing devices from the home, auto, office or your pocket is taking a big step forward today with the introduction of MeeGo," said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini.

Continue reading Moblin + Maemo = MeeGo.

Nokia N900 dual booting into Maemo 5 and Android

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 27, 2010 3:12 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One (mostly) open source mobile OS was not enough for one enterprising user. He has hacked his Nokia N900 to dual boot, into both the Debian-based Maemo (version 5)and the Linux and Java-based Android (version 1.6, "Donut").

Check out the video proof, as in "proof of concept", according to user bdogg64:

Continue reading Nokia N900 dual booting into Maemo 5 and Android.

Hidden Linux - The power beneath the hood

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 15, 2010 3:53 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

An interesting blog post on the prevalent but unacknowledged presence of Linux, in a wide variety of devices, applications and services.

Jay Lyman, of the 451 Group, predicts that 2010 will kick off the era of hidden Linux. That "while we can expect major market gains and new inroads for Linux, the further the open source OS spreads, the less likely we are to really see how far."

He writes:

Continue reading Hidden Linux - The power beneath the hood.

LG chooses Moblin for GW990 smartphone

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 12, 2010 3:57 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

An interesting one from CES - LG is going the Linux route with its LG GW990 smartphone.

Continue reading LG chooses Moblin for GW990 smartphone.

The gift of Linux Foundation membership

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on January 5, 2010 2:26 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

"Give the Gift of Linux Foundation Memberships to Needy Students". This is the title of post on Intel's Software Network blog, and we are happy to echo the sentiments.

Dawn Foster highlights an initiative from the Linux Foundation whereby new members can also specify a student to receive membership (or allow the foundation to select a student off their own list). It's a 'Get One, Give One' promotion, as it were.

Continue reading The gift of Linux Foundation membership.

How Linux is built

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on December 8, 2009 11:21 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Back in September we covered Who Writes Linux, today we are flagging How Linux is built.

On the How Software Is Built blog, there is an interesting in-depth interview with Greg Kroah-Hartman, a Linux Kernel Dev/Maintainer.

If anyone knows Linux kernel driver development, it's Greg Kroah-Hartman, who's been working deep in Linux for over a decade. In this interview, Greg talks about how the Linux project has accommodated the accelerating rate of change for the kernel, and offers some insight on where Linux is headed, writes the blog.

Continue reading How Linux is built.

A look at the development costs of Linux

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 26, 2009 11:07 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Check out a new Linux-related article on the site - Where is the cost in an embedded Linux system?

Written by Andy Lunness, programme manager at STMicroelectronics, he looks at the distribution of cost in an embedded Linux system.

In particular, he addresses the cost of the development effort, which he says any project manager will tell you is the major cost of projects. He also considers other factors, such as open source licensing, the cost in IT infrastructure, bills of materials, and time to market...

Continue reading A look at the development costs of Linux.

ARM launches Android developer resource

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 17, 2009 4:42 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

ARM launched its Android Solution Centre today, created as a resource for designers and developers of ARM technology-based products running on Android, the open-source platform from the Open handset Alliance, writes David Manners.

The article continues:

There has been increasing interest in developing for the Android platform. The Motorola Droid is the latest entrance into the smartphone-on-Android market and an explosion of Android phones and applications is expected.

Continue reading ARM launches Android developer resource.

Korenix JetBox 9430-w for embedded Linux networking

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 12, 2009 10:30 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Korenix has announced the JetBox 9430-w, which it describes as an "intelligent Linux ready embedded networking computer with complete Layer 3 routing capabilities for efficiently managing extended network groups in industrial environments".

It has IP-31 rugged anti-vibration/shock design and a -40~80C operating temperatures. It features VPN functionality, and can support establishing long-distance and secured network connections over WAN.

Features highlighted by Korenix are:

Continue reading Korenix JetBox 9430-w for embedded Linux networking.

Cavium Networks takes over MontaVista Software

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 11, 2009 11:42 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Intel has bought Wind River, and now Cavium Networks acquisition of MontaVista Software. Chip makers love Linux, writes Richard Wilson in his Distribution blog post - Linux lies at the heart of another Silicon Valley takeover

Cavium Networks has reportedly acquired MontaVista Software for $50m.

Continue reading Cavium Networks takes over MontaVista Software.

Vodafone 360 Samsung handset boosts Mobile Linux

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 4, 2009 3:00 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The LiMo Foundation is heralding the launch of the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1, the second LiMo-compliant device built upon LiMo Platform release 2, writes editor Richard Wilson.

The first LiMo Platform release 2 compliant device was the Vodafone 360 Samsung H1.

According to Morgan Gillis, executive director, LiMo Foundation:

Continue reading Vodafone 360 Samsung handset boosts Mobile Linux.

Android 2.0 - the Éclair version

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on November 2, 2009 9:35 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Missed this one at the end of last week, but just to flag... Google has officially released version 2.0 of its Android device platform, codenamed Éclair.

Highlights of the new version include a revamped graphics architecture (for better hardware acceleration), support for Bluetooth 2.1, and two new profiles (Object Push Profile (OPP) and Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)). There are also new framework APIs.

Continue reading Android 2.0 - the Éclair version.

Qt 4.6 for Maemo on a Nokia N900

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 16, 2009 3:56 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One to note maybe, for those tracking developments of Nokia's open source Debian-based Maemo environment, for smartphones and tablets.

The mobile phone giant has announced the creation of the official Qt port to Maemo 5 and published an initial Technology Preview release.

It means that developers can now use Qt - the open source cross-platform development framework - to target upcoming Nokia N900 devices, as well as port apps to all Qt's other supported platforms. This includes Maemo 6, it states, as well as Symbian and Windows Mobile.

Continue reading Qt 4.6 for Maemo on a Nokia N900.

Acal unveils RJ45-sized Linux networking server

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 13, 2009 9:55 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

One for the record books? Distributor Acal Technology has samples of what is claimed to be the world's smallest, self-contained Linux networking server. It fits in an an extended RJ-45 connector, believe it or not.

Lantronix XPort Pro operates Linux or Evolution OS operating systems, and inside is a 32-bit processor, 8Mbyte SDRAM, and 16Mbyte of flash, writes Steve Bush.

Continue reading Acal unveils RJ45-sized Linux networking server.

Intel talks Open Source

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 12, 2009 5:26 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Just to share what was new to me - Intel has an Open Source Software landing page on its website, bringing together different elements of its coverage: Moblin developments, tools and resources, events, multimedia, developer content, project contributions, etc.

You can find Open Source at Intel at http://software.intel.com/sites/oss/

They've also created an Open Source element of the Intel "blogosphere" (dread phrase). You can find their various blog posts that are filed under the category of Open Source at http://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/category/open-source/

Video: Linux Kernel Roundtable with Linus Torvalds

By Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 8, 2009 10:38 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Thanks to Dawn Foster, on the Intel Software Network, for flagging this one - a Linux Kernel Roundtable with Linus Torvalds, J.E.J. Bottomley, Jonathan Corbet, Greg Kroah-Hartman, Ted T'so, and Chris Wright.

View the Linux Magazine Roundtable - The Linux Kernel: Straight from the source

Archives

Robert on Git - Version Control for Grumpy Old Men?: "works great on Windows (git's one big flaw)" That's wrong: read more
Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on Microsoft sees the Linux light: Thanks for the comment Greg. For other readers' reference, I've read more
Greg Wilson-Lindberg on Microsoft sees the Linux light: As you said, you are reporting on this a bit read more
David G on Git - Version Control for Grumpy Old Men?: "I worked on a project that included two FPGA images read more
Catherine on Git - Version Control for Grumpy Old Men?: You may also try SCM Anywhere, which is a SQL-based read more
Miles Thomas on Multi-Thread or Multi-Process?: Actually, in most Unixes and I think also in Linux read more
Russ Klein on Site update: OKL hypervisor runs Linux and RTOS on Motorola's QA4: It seems odd to me that one would take a read more
gate valve on Welcome to Electronics Weekly's Open Source Engineering blog: Interesting blog. I'm glad I've found it. read more
Richard Danter - Wind River on The Ten Commandments for C Programmers: Yes, the 9th rule refers to some really old compilers read more
Alun Williams on The Ten Commandments for C Programmers: Test harnesses, eh. I reckon that may sort the men read more

Hans Juergen Rauscher
Hans Juergen Rauscher is one of Wind River's most experienced Systems Architects. Based in the 'Munich' office in Ismaning, he joined Wind River in 2000 to work with some of the best-known telecoms and networking brands in the world, helping to integrate Wind River Linux for Carrier Grade applications, his main area of expertise within Open Source. 'HJ', as he is inevitably called by his English colleagues, is a keen writer and an avid motorsports addict - as anyone who's survived being driven by him will attest to.

Richard Danter
Richard, of Wind River, has been in the embedded software industry since leaving University in 1994. He worked at a major electronics manufacturer developing set-top boxes for Digital Satellites, focusing on Board Support Packages and Device Drivers for the pSOS+ Real-Time OS. He joined EST Corp, a JTAG tools company in 1999, before it was acquired by Wind River. He now participates in presenting Wind River Linux training courses.

One of Richard's main claims to fame is a series of U-Boot ports to various boards. Richard has used and explored Linux since 1996. He lives on the south coast. Besides 'anything Linux', Richard lists photography among his interests and took the self-portrait you see here!

Mark Day
Mark Day is Wind River's youngest Technical Account Manager. He joined Wind River at just 24 in 2007 to work with some of Europe's top robotics and telecoms manufacturers, integrating customised open-source packages and providing customer service to tailor Wind River Linux and VxWorks to customer specs. Mark also demonstrates Wind River Linux to device design teams that are considering going Open Source in their next project. Plus he's unstoppable on the rugby pitch!