An overview of Linux Boot Process for Embedded Systems
Booting Linux on embedded hardware collapses PC boot stages into a single bootloader, and understanding the early steps helps troubleshoot low-level failures. Kunal Singh breaks down the sequence from the bootstrap firmware and primary/secondary bootloaders through zImage decompression, MMU and page table setup, start_kernel, and the initrd pivot to the root filesystem. Practical focus favors ARM examples.
Building Linux Kernel for Desktops
Kernel building for desktop Linux is less daunting than it used to be. In this short primer Kunal Singh introduces the distribution-specific tools and procedures that simplify compiling a desktop kernel, with focused pointers for Fedora, Ubuntu, and SUSE. Engineers will get a quick overview of where to start and which tools each distribution provides to streamline a custom kernel build.
Hello Android
Finally I could get Android Early SDK up and running on my Fedora Core-7 Machine.
The process was quite simple. However I had to struggle for a few days, because Fedora install the gnu version of Java and Android requires Java from Sun.
Here are the steps I had to follow:
(1) Install the eclipse IDE (if you do not have it already) with following command:
$> yum install eclipse-jdt eclipse-jdt-sdk (to be done as super user).
(2) now install the Android SDK and ADT plug-in for Eclipse...
NXP acquires Conexant STB Division
NXP paid $100 million for Conexant's set-top-box (STB) division, a quick way to bulk up its STB lineup and customer roster. The acquisition hands NXP a large installed base while relieving Conexant, which had endured financial trouble and heavy layoffs over the past year. For embedded engineers and product managers this signals consolidation in the STB semiconductor space and potential changes in supply and support.
ANSI-C to VHDL compiler
Ylichron has released an "ANSI-C to VHDL" compiler, and the company says it is the first of its kind. The brief announcement flags a potentially important vendor claim for embedded and FPGA engineers who track C-to-hardware tools. Kunal Singh reports the availability and the marketing claim, and readers should seek technical details and independent verification before drawing conclusions.
Open Source Influencers
eWeek publish this list of 15 most influential personalities in Open Source World. Really Interesting.Multimedia Compression: Another Revolution
Researchers at University of Rochester have developed a new technology to store the Music in compressed format, where compression ratios of a factor of Tens of Thousands can be achieved . This technology takes a completely different approach from the existing multimedia compression techniques - e.g. MP3, MPEG4. Whereas the existing technologies rely on eliminating the redundant (for lossless compression) and less important (for lossy compression) multimedia data (from original content), the...
iPhone aca Linux Station
CPUs are closing the gap between desktops and handhelds, and Kunal Singh points to a likely future where phones and laptops merge. The short note highlights how laptops already ate into desktop share and raises the provocative idea that an iPhone could become a Linux workstation. It’s a quick prompt to rethink device form factors and operating system roles as mobile hardware gets more capable.
Configuration Management: Why Developers are Avert to
A few reasons why developers have aversion towards "Software Configuration Management Systems"
(1) They do not understand the importance of configuration management. - It is a common and logical reason. But, it is also a very dangerous sign for any organization. If their developers do not understand the importance of configuration management; then it is highly likely that developers even do not understand the other fundamentals of software development. The situation becomes worst...
An overview of Linux Boot Process for Embedded Systems
Booting Linux on embedded hardware collapses PC boot stages into a single bootloader, and understanding the early steps helps troubleshoot low-level failures. Kunal Singh breaks down the sequence from the bootstrap firmware and primary/secondary bootloaders through zImage decompression, MMU and page table setup, start_kernel, and the initrd pivot to the root filesystem. Practical focus favors ARM examples.
Thumb Rules for Effective Meetings
Too many meetings waste engineers' time while too few kill communication, and Kunal Singh proposes seven practical thumb rules to fix both extremes. He outlines how to identify meeting types, publish and stick to an agenda, clarify roles, eliminate ambiguity, conclude items or mark them open, and circulate minutes. These simple practices help make meetings concise, accountable, and decision-oriented.
Embedded Space & Software Development Practices
Kunal Singh describes how embedded development has moved from tiny assembly routines to full applications running on operating systems with threads and libraries. He warns the era of "simple" firmware is ending, and urges embedded engineers to adopt fundamentals like maintainability, reusability, testability, low coupling, and clean interfaces. He recommends Agile Software Development and Code Complete as practical starting points.
VIGO is Cool
A simple trick makes your camera phone double as a PC webcam, Kunal Singh highlights WWIGO, a two-part app that streams camera video over Bluetooth from Nokia Series 60 phones to desktop or laptop. The phone-side app sends video, the PC-side client injects it into common meeting tools like Skype, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger. It’s a low-complexity, practical utility from startup Motvik.
Multimedia Compression: Another Revolution
Researchers at University of Rochester have developed a new technology to store the Music in compressed format, where compression ratios of a factor of Tens of Thousands can be achieved . This technology takes a completely different approach from the existing multimedia compression techniques - e.g. MP3, MPEG4. Whereas the existing technologies rely on eliminating the redundant (for lossless compression) and less important (for lossy compression) multimedia data (from original content), the...
Next time you refer to an Optical Disc
I recently came across this interesting (and lesser known) fact about Optical Discs:
The word disc, in reference to DVD or CD, should be spelled with a c, not a k. The generally accepted rule is that optical discs are spelled with a c, whereas magnetic disks are spelled with a k. For magneto-optical discs, which are a combination of both formats, the word is spelled with c because the discs are read with a laser. The New York Times, after years of head-in-the-sand usage of k for...
NXP acquires Conexant STB Division
NXP paid $100 million for Conexant's set-top-box (STB) division, a quick way to bulk up its STB lineup and customer roster. The acquisition hands NXP a large installed base while relieving Conexant, which had endured financial trouble and heavy layoffs over the past year. For embedded engineers and product managers this signals consolidation in the STB semiconductor space and potential changes in supply and support.
Wiki Search is here
Kunal reports that a Wiki Search engine is now up and running, bringing a new entrant to web search. He does not expect an immediate threat to Google, but hopes the arrival of this alternative will spur fresh search features and more choice for users. For engineers and tech watchers this signals healthy competition and potential for faster innovation in search.
Open Source Influencers
eWeek publish this list of 15 most influential personalities in Open Source World. Really Interesting.An overview of Linux Boot Process for Embedded Systems
Booting Linux on embedded hardware collapses PC boot stages into a single bootloader, and understanding the early steps helps troubleshoot low-level failures. Kunal Singh breaks down the sequence from the bootstrap firmware and primary/secondary bootloaders through zImage decompression, MMU and page table setup, start_kernel, and the initrd pivot to the root filesystem. Practical focus favors ARM examples.
ANSI-C to VHDL compiler
Ylichron has released an "ANSI-C to VHDL" compiler, and the company says it is the first of its kind. The brief announcement flags a potentially important vendor claim for embedded and FPGA engineers who track C-to-hardware tools. Kunal Singh reports the availability and the marketing claim, and readers should seek technical details and independent verification before drawing conclusions.
Thumb Rules for Effective Meetings
Too many meetings waste engineers' time while too few kill communication, and Kunal Singh proposes seven practical thumb rules to fix both extremes. He outlines how to identify meeting types, publish and stick to an agenda, clarify roles, eliminate ambiguity, conclude items or mark them open, and circulate minutes. These simple practices help make meetings concise, accountable, and decision-oriented.
Building Linux Kernel for Desktops
Kernel building for desktop Linux is less daunting than it used to be. In this short primer Kunal Singh introduces the distribution-specific tools and procedures that simplify compiling a desktop kernel, with focused pointers for Fedora, Ubuntu, and SUSE. Engineers will get a quick overview of where to start and which tools each distribution provides to streamline a custom kernel build.
Hello Android
Finally I could get Android Early SDK up and running on my Fedora Core-7 Machine.
The process was quite simple. However I had to struggle for a few days, because Fedora install the gnu version of Java and Android requires Java from Sun.
Here are the steps I had to follow:
(1) Install the eclipse IDE (if you do not have it already) with following command:
$> yum install eclipse-jdt eclipse-jdt-sdk (to be done as super user).
(2) now install the Android SDK and ADT plug-in for Eclipse...
Embedded Space & Software Development Practices
Kunal Singh describes how embedded development has moved from tiny assembly routines to full applications running on operating systems with threads and libraries. He warns the era of "simple" firmware is ending, and urges embedded engineers to adopt fundamentals like maintainability, reusability, testability, low coupling, and clean interfaces. He recommends Agile Software Development and Code Complete as practical starting points.
Multimedia Compression: Another Revolution
Researchers at University of Rochester have developed a new technology to store the Music in compressed format, where compression ratios of a factor of Tens of Thousands can be achieved . This technology takes a completely different approach from the existing multimedia compression techniques - e.g. MP3, MPEG4. Whereas the existing technologies rely on eliminating the redundant (for lossless compression) and less important (for lossy compression) multimedia data (from original content), the...
Configuration Management: Why Developers are Avert to
A few reasons why developers have aversion towards "Software Configuration Management Systems"
(1) They do not understand the importance of configuration management. - It is a common and logical reason. But, it is also a very dangerous sign for any organization. If their developers do not understand the importance of configuration management; then it is highly likely that developers even do not understand the other fundamentals of software development. The situation becomes worst...
Wiki Search is here
Kunal reports that a Wiki Search engine is now up and running, bringing a new entrant to web search. He does not expect an immediate threat to Google, but hopes the arrival of this alternative will spur fresh search features and more choice for users. For engineers and tech watchers this signals healthy competition and potential for faster innovation in search.
