After filesystem what is next on embedded linux?

Dear Comunity:

I've been working with embedded linux for a while. Successfully with a tutorial and some books I have done a small linux and I have simulated its performance with qemu. Nonetheless at this point I don't know what to do next. My goal is to have a stable linux running over an ARM cortex-8 with graphic support. Unfortunately I have not found any useful reference of how to debug, complete and refine this linux. I mean I want to have everything stable to go to next stage, adding microwindows, enlightement etc for this embedded linux.

Do you know any good reference for finishing this and for adding graphic support?


As a reference I'm working with busybox, buildroot, qemu in fedora 9.


Any help you can provide I really appreciate it, I'm so desperate and confused. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I don't like openembedded

For graphics, you need to determine whether your graphics hardware is supported by some existing graphics package, such as X. (Xorg/Xfree86). If so, you are well along the way, since writing your application can then leverage the support of the plethora of X-based graphical toolkits, such as GTK+, Qt, etc.
If not, you will need to write a driver for your graphics hardware that can be used by X, or by a more primitive standard such as Linux Framebuffer. Until this part has been determined it is pointless to speculate on further action.
Do you have your OS running on actual Arm hardware, yet, or is everything simply an emulation so far? For writing a driver, you are going to need to start accessing some real silicon, so if you haven't yet done so, get your hardware running now.
--- rod.

Thanks Nbomr for your answers!!

Originally Posted by theNbomr For graphics, you need to determine whether your graphics hardware is supported by some existing graphics package, such as X. (Xorg/Xfree86). If so, you are well along the way, since writing your application can then leverage the support of the plethora of X-based graphical toolkits, such as GTK+, Qt, etc. If not, you will need to write a driver for your graphics hardware that can be used by X, or by a more primitive standard such as Linux Framebuffer. Until this part has been determined it is pointless to speculate on further action.

I know ARM-CORTEX8 perfectly supports microwindows, but I have some issues about my linux embedded.

Originally Posted by theNbomr Do you have your OS running on actual Arm hardware, yet, or is everything simply an emulation so far? For writing a driver, you are going to need to start accessing some real silicon, so if you haven't yet done so, get your hardware running now. --- rod.

Yes I have an evaluation board with OMAP processor. Nonetheless the issues I mentioned before reside on how to know if my linux embedded is complete or not. I mean, I know the only way to find out if my linux is ready is testing on platform. But I want to know is there are some directives or documents to follow about performance, file system design on embedded, management of kernel and modules, etc, etc, which make easier to have a perfectly functional stable system.

After having a complete stable system I want to know also if there is a methodology for having microwindows or a small version of enlightenment also stable too running over embedded linux, ready to development.

But you might wonder, why is so much important for me stability? Well, I'm planning using linux on some devices for life support, that's way is so important stability.. just imagine a system that suddenly resets or freezes? just a nightmare!!

Many thanks for your comments, please send many more.

You are focusing one or two layers too high. You need to be able to shuffle bits to/from your graphics hardware. Until you can do that, no amount of GUI/windowing/graphics software is going anywhere. Simulations are nice and all, but embedded systems work requires you to get close to the hardware, and there is only so far you can go with simulations.
There is no one good reference for what you are seeking, short of several years of experience. Your project sounds ambitious, and you will probably gain much experience in a hurry.
--- rod.

Originally Posted by theNbomr You are focusing one or two layers too high. You need to be able to shuffle bits to/from your graphics hardware. Until you can do that, no amount of GUI/windowing/graphics software is going anywhere. Simulations are nice and all, but embedded systems work requires you to get close to the hardware, and there is only so far you can go with simulations. There is no one good reference for what you are seeking, short of several years of experience. Your project sounds ambitious, and you will probably gain much experience in a hurry. --- rod.

Thanks for your comments. I will try to do my best, but seems not to be a clear road for starting, anyway I hope I can reach my goal in a short time. Regards!!

What is the name of your OMAP board? From where you received the Linux Kernel for this board? Did you have a display on your board? Please let me know in detail.

Regards,
Suresh