Sunday, June 14, 2009

Dual boot video

Still preparing the dual boot package release. Meanwhile, here's a short video of dual boot working. The final version lits the LCD as soon as you switch it on, but shows nothing on it until the kernel framebuffer driver takes control. It's not nice but is better than having a dark screen (which felt like something was not working).

One note on boot time: the current boot process involves u-boot and a one second delay before mounting the root filesystem. u-boot is necessary because we are booting from miniSD and the delay is needed to let the kernel hotplug system detect the miniSD. Eventually, when linux replaces the original firmware (don't hold your breath), those delays will dissapear.

UPDATE: yes, I said I'd be releasing binaries this weeked, but though I've dedicated quite a lot of hours, there were many issues to address. Please be patient.
Posted by at 11:23 AM

16 comments:

  1. Wow nice progress Booboo !
    Really nice to see this, but on what buttons do u need to press to start linux?
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  2. when will we see a release to install on our a320 and do we have to start games via usb.will it be easy to install.irm thinking to buy a wiz but it seems the dingoo is getting more attesnshion recently seeing the release of dingoo linux.
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  3. Siem: looks like he's holding select as he turns it on.
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  4. To use the internal flash is non possible to use a virtual disk as Wubi on pc?
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  5. its... sooo... close. I cant wait.
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  6. don't worry about what you said. it's always best not to rush these things.
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  7. Oh come on, hurry up, it's not like you're carefully producing a guide and software targeted at preventing newbies from messing up their boot sector and bricking their devices or anything!

    I kid, I kid! Take all the time you need, you can't rush perfection.
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  8. I promised my son he would have a Linux machine this weekend, i couldn't keep up my word, now he hates me and has his heart broken.

    Thanks Booboo, of course, its another joke, there is no rush, without you we couldn't be having or expecting any of this.
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  9. the Question about the key is answered in the txt file in his previous post....
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  11. I'm trying to get the Qt Embedded framework running on Dingoo Linux. Qt is a very good multi-platform framework (user interface, graphics, sound....). I compiled the Qt Embedded sourcecode using the Ingenic toolchain, but currently I do not yet succeed in running the example applications. I get the following messages in the console:
    QWSServerSocket::init: Function not implemented
    QWSServerSocket: unable to create socket.
    QWSServerPrivate::initServer: server socket not listening: Illegal seek
    Failed to bind to /tmp/qtembedded-0/QtEmbedded-0
    Aborted

    Somebody said this has to do with unix sockets not begin enabled in the kernel. Is this something that would be possible to do or do you foresee problems for this?
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  12. @Coolty: though a shorter name would be more reasily recognized, so I registered the domain and changed the blog name.

    @Master: the kernel binary I released does have the whole networking functionality disabled to save resources, plus thought it made no sense in a non-networked device. If you absolutely need it, you may get the kernel sources, enable it and compile.

    I've developed quite a lot for Qt on desktops, and I think it doesn't make much sense to port it to a device with such a limited "desktop" space and without a pointing device (mouse).
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  13. Hi Booboo,

    Qt Embedded (now owned by Nokia and recently made LGPL) is made for all kinds of mobile devices, with or without pointing device. It is for example used on many phones, eg:

    http://www.osnews.com/story/15678&page=1

    The reason I'd like to use it is because it provides a very nice and easy to use interface to a lot of functionality (user interface, graphics, file system, threads...). It would be a good choice for the menu system and for writing all kinds of applications for the device. I already used Qt on an embedded device with buttons very similar to Dingoo's and it worked out really well.

    I'll see if I can make a modified kernel to try out some things with Qt embedded and then post the results.
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  14. Someone already ported the Qtopia environment on onda vx747: another chinese pmp based on ingenics jz4732 SoC using linux, obviously)... (why the hell can't copy-paste links here?) if you want to know more you can google a few...
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  15. when can we see a release of the dual boot? Also, are you working on a non-mini SD method?
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  16. awsome! can't wait to see how far the a320 (and x760+) reach with lunix.
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