I'm trying to add a modification to Linux for my Master's thesis. My Prof suggested running Linux as a program to facilitate debugging.

I need some suggestions as to how to do this. I am working in Ubuntu 10.4.1. I can get Linux 2.6.36.2 to compile. I can't figure out how to run it - as a standalone or as an OS.

Also, I'd appreciate suggestions for a development environment. I looked into Eclipse, KDevelop, Code::Blocks, and Anjuta. Reports on various forums list problems with all of these. I am not eager to spend the time to evaluate all these IDEs only to conclude that none are workable. I am most familiar with Visual Studio but need to find the appropriate include files specific to a Windows installation.

How that is done depends on what you mean by that. debugging what? There are plenty of debugging tools for Linux, e.g. valgrind, so surely he wouldn't mean making a new tool like this. Maybe he means, i don't know, some sort of appliance to connect to some other equipment, e.g. an engine computer for diagnostic analysis??

Why are you trying to rebuild a linux kernel? If you don't know how to use what you've got, I'd suggest you shouldn't be doing it. Not least becuase it doesn't make sense (as I read it) to ask how to run it "standalone".

IDE's.... vi is nice. works for me. Do you know Red Dwarf? In the book / TV Series, Rimmer would spend ages drawing out the perfect study timetable for his space exams. It would be so perfect, and he'd spend so long making it, that by the time it was finished, his schedule was already half way through. So he'd have to do another timetable to account for this, and so on... Do you even need a full on sexy IDE? I'd doubt it. vi is nice.

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I guess I wasn't clear. My Prof suggested "running Linux as a program" or "standalone" would be the same as running a new shell. Not a shell forked from Ubuntu, but my modified Linux as a shell or standalone program. I would like to be able to run and evaluate my modification without risking disabling or breaking the OS I am using.

You are right, I don't know what I am doing - yet. That is why I joined the Newbie group. The thesis concept is simple and straight forward. It's the tools I need to research and learn that are holding me back at the moment.

An IDE is an integrated suite of applications including at least an editor, compiler, assembler, linker, and debugger. By integrating such programs, productivity is improved. An IDE is a tool I am familiar with when writing software. Vi is only one part of an IDE. Yes, vi is nice but not all that I am looking for. I'll check out Valgrind. Thanks.

Use VirtualBox???

Here is an old link on the subject: http://astahost.com/info.php/languag...ten_t9153.html

Looks like C to me so any IDE for C might work.

Also, you could look at "Linux From Scratch"

P.S I don't 'really' know what I am talking about and I am even not sure I know what you are talking about so, guide yourself accordingly...

Unless your prof has lost the plot you had better ask them to explain their suggestion again because what you have said they said makes no sense.

I agree with Catkin : Linux != shell and Linux != program. Your Prof's terminology is erroneous/unclear.
Possibly(!) he meant run Linux in a VM type env on top of (inside) MS-Win?

eh? does he mean User Mode Linux or something?

I thought he meant he downloaded the kernel and wants to build his own OS. If this is true then OP needs to know that the linux kernel is just the heart of the OS. Its takes more apps to run the Kernel. Good start as already said http://linuxfromscratch.org . Its so easy a newbie can do it. Well almost anyways.

Hey try to be more clear and maybe we can help you further.

Yes, I came across User Mode Linux. This looks like what Prof referred to.

I had to try a couple sets of instructions until I got UML to compile. After working through several problems I still can't get it to run.

The root file system is mounted, virtual consoles 1 through 12 are assigned, then I get this:
init: console-setup main process (235) terminated with status 1
udevd[244]: failed to create queue file: No such file or directory
udevd[244]: error creating queue file

But, this seems a problem for another forum.
Thanks for all the help.