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
Getting Android Early SDK running on Fedora Core 7 sounds simple, until Java gets in the way. Kunal Singh walks through the exact setup he used, from installing Eclipse and the Android SDK to switching Fedora over from GNU Java to Sun Java so the tooling would work. It is a quick, practical note for anyone trying to get an old Linux dev box talking to early Android tools.
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 put together a list of 15 influential personalities in the open source world, and this short post points readers to it. The appeal here is the broader perspective, a quick reminder of who shaped the ecosystem engineers still rely on today. If you want a fast look at the people behind open source’s rise, this is a simple place to start.
Multimedia Compression: Another Revolution
Researchers at the University of Rochester have proposed a radically different way to compress music, claiming compression ratios in the tens of thousands. Instead of trimming redundancy like MP3 or MPEG4, the method encodes and reproduces music in a completely new form. It is still far from commercial use, but the idea is striking enough to rethink what multimedia compression could become.
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.
Speed Up Your Linux Box
Kunal Singh shares a quick set of tips for accelerating a Linux box. The post is a lightweight overview aimed at helping you squeeze more performance out of your system without getting deep into theory.
Configuration Management: Why Developers are Avert to
Configuration management can feel like bureaucracy, but Kunal Singh argues the real problem is usually much deeper. In this short post, he points to three common reasons developers resist SCM systems, from not understanding their value to struggling with repository tools or feeling uneasy about exposing their code. He also suggests practical fixes, like mandatory tool training and basic coding guidelines.
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.
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.
Nokia in Soup Again?
Nokia is back in the spotlight, this time for closing its Germany manufacturing plant and triggering a public backlash. The post contrasts that controversy with Nokia’s earlier, surprisingly effective handling of the BL-5C battery replacement program, where affected users could request a new pack online and receive it by courier. It asks whether the company can recover its image again.
Hello Android
Getting Android Early SDK running on Fedora Core 7 sounds simple, until Java gets in the way. Kunal Singh walks through the exact setup he used, from installing Eclipse and the Android SDK to switching Fedora over from GNU Java to Sun Java so the tooling would work. It is a quick, practical note for anyone trying to get an old Linux dev box talking to early Android tools.
Speed Up Your Linux Box
Kunal Singh shares a quick set of tips for accelerating a Linux box. The post is a lightweight overview aimed at helping you squeeze more performance out of your system without getting deep into theory.
Configuration Management: Why Developers are Avert to
Configuration management can feel like bureaucracy, but Kunal Singh argues the real problem is usually much deeper. In this short post, he points to three common reasons developers resist SCM systems, from not understanding their value to struggling with repository tools or feeling uneasy about exposing their code. He also suggests practical fixes, like mandatory tool training and basic coding guidelines.
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 the University of Rochester have proposed a radically different way to compress music, claiming compression ratios in the tens of thousands. Instead of trimming redundancy like MP3 or MPEG4, the method encodes and reproduces music in a completely new form. It is still far from commercial use, but the idea is striking enough to rethink what multimedia compression could become.
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.
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
Getting Android Early SDK running on Fedora Core 7 sounds simple, until Java gets in the way. Kunal Singh walks through the exact setup he used, from installing Eclipse and the Android SDK to switching Fedora over from GNU Java to Sun Java so the tooling would work. It is a quick, practical note for anyone trying to get an old Linux dev box talking to early Android tools.
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.
Speed Up Your Linux Box
Kunal Singh shares a quick set of tips for accelerating a Linux box. The post is a lightweight overview aimed at helping you squeeze more performance out of your system without getting deep into theory.
Multimedia Compression: Another Revolution
Researchers at the University of Rochester have proposed a radically different way to compress music, claiming compression ratios in the tens of thousands. Instead of trimming redundancy like MP3 or MPEG4, the method encodes and reproduces music in a completely new form. It is still far from commercial use, but the idea is striking enough to rethink what multimedia compression could become.
Configuration Management: Why Developers are Avert to
Configuration management can feel like bureaucracy, but Kunal Singh argues the real problem is usually much deeper. In this short post, he points to three common reasons developers resist SCM systems, from not understanding their value to struggling with repository tools or feeling uneasy about exposing their code. He also suggests practical fixes, like mandatory tool training and basic coding guidelines.
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.
