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ELJonline: Ten Years of Software Opportunity 1991-2001
Don Marti (November, 2001)

Contests, kernel hacking, SBCs and much more to come. Contests, kernel hacking, SBCs and much more to come.

In the ten years that Linux has been around, the Linux community has done some important things right, and the biggest is our low barrier to entry for developers. For little or no investment, you can be reading and modifying meaningful code. Naturally this means there are more web discussion boards, IRC clients and half-finished software doodads than anyone will ever need, but the opportunity Linux offers has resulted in a lot of good coding and testing, and a lot of big success stories, that wouldn't have happened with an inaccessible system.

This opportunity is one of the biggest challenges for embedded Linux because barriers to entry grow when the target platform is something other than universally available computer hardware. As an industry, it's important for us to make tools and information available to low-budget customers who are future contributors and partners.

ELJ will always try to keep the industry growing by opening doors to new embedded systems developers and entrepreneurs. And thanks to our contest sponsors, ZF Micro Devices, Tri-M Systems, LynuxWorks, M-Systems and O'Reilly and Associates, 100 independent developers got embedded Linux development kits. Some information on the winners is on page 8. Keep reading ELJ for announcements of future contests, as more vendors join us in making sure there's opportunity in embedded Linux, just as in Linux for generic computers.

If you're into kernel hacking, you'll thrill to the dramatic conclusion of Waël Hassan's guide to device drivers and an article on a new architecture: Mike Esch's on porting Linux to the Nios soft-core CPU.

Meanwhile, in user space, Java wizard Quentin Olson explains how you can exploit the advantages of Java for point-of-sale applications. Dr. Steve Mann and Corey Manders hack the X server to drive EyeTap displays for wearable computers. And Nathan Field introduces debugging techniques for embedded applications.

As we promised in our e-mail newsletter in September, Darren Hart slashes glibc's footprint with custom compilation, no source code changes, on page 19. Elementary C and C++ errors can turn into big problems when memory and debugging tools are limited. Jasper Kamperman lays down the laws of quality code on page 47.

Our first survey of embedded Linux distributions is on page 17. It's just a start though; there will be more coverage of the tools that the distributions offer in future issues.

The cover photo of chickens perched on SBCs? That's just to get you to read Michael Baxter's article on page 12. Single-board computers in many different architectures now offer Gigabit Ethernet and support a huge diversity of I/O standards. Michael explains how they can work for your application.



Copyright © 2001 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Embedded Linux Journal Online is a cooperative project of Embedded Linux Journal and LinuxDevices.com.


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FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.

Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.

Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.

Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.

High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.

Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.

Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.

Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

 


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