Hi Mike, On Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 2:03 PM, Mike Turquette <mturque...@ti.com> wrote: > Quoting Graeme Russ (2012-10-01 19:58:14)
[snip] >> Essentially, I'm after a device I can use as a media box / thin-client >> X-term / hacker platform where every single byte of code that runs on >> the device is free software. This includes: >> - Boot loader (including SDRAM init) >> - Operating system (GNU / Linux would be my personal choice) >> - All drivers (no binary blobs, no 'firmware' blobs) >> - All application software >> > > Have you checked out the list of platforms on the eLinux wiki? > > http://elinux.org/Development_Platforms No, I had not but I have had a quick look now. None seem to be, at first glance, 100% 'open' > In particular I have soft spot for TI's Pandaboard (full disclosure: TI > gives me paper money in exchange for C codes): > http://omappedia.org/wiki/PandaBoard Yes, Pandaboard looks good. I already have a Raspberry Pi and a Mele A1000 (uses the Allwinner A10 SoC) - Both seem to be 'capable' but neither are even close to having a 100% FLOSS code base >> I have yet to see such a platform. A lot come close, but it seems to >> me that most fall short when it comes to drivers for the video codecs. >> > > Many platforms have some binary blobs which you can download to get > video decoders and 3D graphics. The ARM cores are getting so fast today > that you can probably decode hi-res videos using FFMPEG... Yes, this is what disappoints me. This is not promising at all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_hardware_and_FOSS#ARM Mali (ARM), PowerVR (Imagination Technologies) and VideoCore (Broadcom) are the main 3D graphics cores for ARM based chips. None have (and none of the vendors have any interest in providing) FLOSS drivers. Ironically, Intel seem to provide one of the highest level of FLOSS support for graphics drivers except for the latest GMA 500 (used extensively on later model Atom SoCs). Why do I say 'ironically'? Intel are probably lowest on the list when it comes to general FLOSS support for the remaining features of their SoCs (particularly SDRAM initialisation) which other SoC vendors seem to have no problem with. AMD/ATI have really good FLOSS support for their graphics engines (particularly 3D, not so sure about video decoding - I haven't had a good dig yet) but what do they have available in the low-powered SoC space? I'll dig deeper there (maybe, again ironically) the answer lives in an x86 SoC (perish the thought) > Anyways you can always find such stuff in the Linaro LEBs or from the > board support website. E.g: > http://omappedia.org/wiki/PandaBoard_FAQ#What_will_Graphics.2FGFX_support_be_like.3F_Will_drivers_be_released.3F "There are no plans to release fully opensource drivers for SGX540" :( >> Am I living a pipe-dream, or does such a device really exist? >> > > I think it exists, but others may disagree. Lots of folks use > Pandboards for set-top boxes running XBMC, hooked up to a TV via HDMI. I might dig deeper into Pandaboard one day, but until I find my 'dream board', I think I will stick to the Raspberry Pi and Mele A1000 for the time being Regards, Graeme _______________________________________________ linaro-dev mailing list linaro-dev@lists.linaro.org http://lists.linaro.org/mailman/listinfo/linaro-dev
