Welcome to LinuxDevices.com's Embedded Linux Newsletter May 20, 2004 by Rick Lehrbaum Editor-in-chief

How embedded Linux development actually works -- Businesses, not hobbyists, are the main contributors to embedded Linux, yet open source participation is growing as companies discover the benefits of shared development. This is one of several key findings from a survey of embedded Linux developers conducted jointly by MIT and the University of Munich. Discover more about how the embedded Linux development process actually works in this fascinating summary of the survey's key findings.

Introducing Minimo (Mini-Mozilla) -- a full-featured embeddable browser -- The "Minimo" project aims to create a full-function, yet embeddable version of Mozilla. The project has reduced code and runtime footprints, with small-display optimization underway. Read on, to find out why Minimo project leaders believe Minimo will be the best browser for embedded Linux devices with 64MB of RAM.

ARM unveils multi-processor core with Linux SMP support -- ARM Ltd. unveiled a unique multi-processor core technology, capable of up to 4-way cache coherent symmetric multi-processing (SMP) running Linux. The new "synthesizable multiprocessor" core can be configured to contain between one and four processors delivering up to 2600 Dhrystone MIPS of aggregate performance, based on clock rates between 335 and 550 MHz.

2nd-gen soft-core RISC processors run uClinux -- Altera has announced a new family of 32-bit soft RISC processor cores it hopes will greatly expand the market appeal for its field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The new Nios II cores support uClinux, and target software-intensive custom processor designs where application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) would be too costly and time-consuming to produce. The cores are available with a development kit that includes an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE) for software development, as well as a development board.

Chip house supports Linux on new ARM-based offering -- Cirrus Logic is supporting Linux on a new low-cost, highly integrated processor based on the ARM9 architecture. The new EP9302 chip targets point-of-sale terminals, medical instrumentation, security and surveillance, process monitoring, and digital entertainment. The processor runs at 200 MHz and includes a single- and double-precision integer and floating-point math engine. An "optimized and fully supported" Linux OS supports the EP9302 for embedded Linux apps.

ColdFire gains MMU -- expect 'real' Linux soon -- Freescale Semiconductor unveiled the first ColdFire processors ever to include a memory management unit (MMU), and therefore able to run full-scale Linux. Simultaneously, Freescale tools subsidiary Metrowerks announced that it plans to offer Linux development tools for the new processors, and will continue to offer -- and enhance -- its uClinux tools for MMU-less ColdFire processors.

Sysgo adds Eclipse-based IDE in major Embedded Linux tools release -- Sysgo has announced a major new release of its ELinOS embedded Linux development tool suite. ELinOS v3.0 provides a single, seamless, Linux-hosted, Eclipse-based development tool that can be used to develop low-level, hardware-related embedded Linux system software, as well as higher level Linux application software, according to Sysgo.

OTHER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK . . .

• Modular, skinable app stack for digital TVs, STBs supports Linux
  
• Code scanning, registry services ease OSS license compliance
  
• Embedded tools vendor RTI joins Eclipse Foundation
  
• Imaging specialist joins MontaVista partner network
  
• Embedded Linux promise helps boost Wind River earnings
  
• LynuxWorks reports growth in profitability and design wins
  
• New book promises to explain the mysteries of Linux
  
• VDC: Communications rebound leads $2.2B embedded board market
  
• Understanding SDIO performance in systems and cards
  
• Nine from IBM -- fast reboots, shared memory, migration, grids . . .
  

. . . and that's not all. Click here for the latest breaking news.

• Article talkbacks
  
• Linux on PDAs
  
• Embedded Linux Q&A
  
• Real-time Linux
  
• GPL issues & discussion
  
• Embedded Java+Linux
  
• Little Linux systems
  
• General discussion
  

• Introduction & Overview ("start here")
  
• Embedded Linux Distributions
  
• Real-time Linux
  
• GUI/Windowing Software
  
• Java on Embedded Linux
  
• System-on-Chip Processors
  
• Single Board Computers
  
• Little Linux Systems
  
• Linux-Based "Cool Devices"
  
• Linux-PDAs and PDA-Linux
  
• Embedded Linux Market
  

You can access this year's previous newsletters here:   May 13,   May 6,   Apr. 29,   Apr. 22,   Apr. 15,   Apr. 8,   Apr. 1,   Mar. 25,   Mar. 18,   Mar. 11,   Mar. 4,   Feb. 26,   Feb. 19,   Feb. 12,   Feb. 5,   Jan. 29,   Jan. 22,   Jan. 15,   Jan. 8

Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com -- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles, links, forums, products, companies, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving "post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet appliances, and embedded systems. You can contact us here.

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