ARM PCs

[FlashBurn]

As there will be soon ARM featured NetBooks, I would to like to do some programmings on them.

Are there any other ARM PCs which I could buy on eBay so that I could start os deving for it? And where can I find some resources for programming the ARM PCs?

[Firestryke31]

Try searching eBay for an ARM-based PC. That will answer your first question. Try searching Google for answering your second question.

I will say that I've had good experiences using DevKitPro's ARM compiler, but I don't know if it will target the version of ARM processor used in these netbooks, and it will probably take fiddling to get it to work with something other than the GBA/NDS...

[Mark139]

There are emulators - skyeye & qemu to name 2. gcc is a pretty good compiler for ARM. Just follow the instructions in the wiki for building a cross compiler and use ARM as the target processor.

Also, check out ARM.com for some technical docs. But I think (last time I look) the daddy document isn't there - it's called ARM architecture reference manual (ARM ARM for short) and can be found in PDF form via google.

ARM is a great architecture and very easy to program in assembler

Good luck.

[jal]

Are there any other ARM PCs which I could buy on eBay so that I could start os deving for it? And where can I find some resources for programming the ARM PCs?

Keep in mind that there is no standard for all the additional components of an ARM-driven computer, as opposed to the PC standard. That means that about everything, from timers, interrupt controller, busses, and so and so forth, not to mention graphics controllers, disk controllers etc. is non-standard, and there is no standard BIOS (if there is a BIOS at all). It makes a huge difference whether you have, say, an ARM-based RISC OS computer or an OLAP-based Beagle board or Pandora.

So the best thing is to wait for the ARM netbooks to actually appear, and see what technology they use, if you are primarily targetting these devices.


JAL

[FlashBurn]

Thanks all for your help. As I´ve read some information about arm and come to the conclusion that it is better to wait for the netbooks and then start programming.

[jal]

Thanks all for your help. As I´ve read some information about arm and come to the conclusion that it is better to wait for the netbooks and then start programming.

The downside could be that they are closed platform, and you'll have to check the Linux sources to see what's going on (if they don't use binary blobs). Alternatively, you could already check out Android's sources, although I suspect the G1 has a different hardware platform than ARM notebooks.

If you do want to develop for a fully documented ARM platform, the Beagle board is the way to go, I think. It's cheaper than a netbook and already available.


JAL

[jal]

If you do want to develop for a fully documented ARM platform, the Beagle board is the way to go, I think.

Buy yourself a beagleboard. Cheap, ARM, lots-a-docs.

2-0 for the Beagle board :).


JAL

[pcmattman]

The Beagle board has no networking capability, from what I've read. If you're looking for an alternative to an ARM PC networking might very well be something you need.

[pcmattman]

I meant on-board networking capability. You are correct though - it's all documented, which is nice (especially considering the board's price - a real bargain).

[JackScott]

Imagine a Beowulf cluster of those!

I've just found my birthday present. Thanks guys!

[Dex]

Try searching for RISC OS in google .

[earlz]

Just reading this makes me curious to buy one.. *googles

[Brynet-Inc]

There are a lot of embedded ARM platforms you could potentially target, plenty new ones pop up on http://www.linuxdevices.com/ daily.

Gumstix - 600-400Mhz ARM boards.. lots of additional modules, like a network riser board, an LCD display.. and an initial OpenBSD port, and Linux obviously.

Sharp Zaurus - Some models ran Linux, not exactly easy to come by these days.. but a port exists for OpenBSD for the SL-C3000, SL-C3100 and the SL-C3200.

OpenMoko devices - An actual cell phone, runs Linux.. a initial port exists for OpenBSD, it also has a 2D/3D graphics accelerator but it's proprietary and from mailing list posts it's on a very slow bus anyway.

How could I forget the plethora of Linux-based routers? presumably you could target one of them.. although they typically lack any sort of LCD display, some might be MIPS not ARM.

That's all for now, but this list woefully incomplete... one other potential target would be thousands of ARM-based Windows CE PDA's, look for the hpcarm port of NetBSD.

[Firestryke31]

My personal favorite ARM-based system: The GBA. Sound, hardware accelerated tile mapping (with h/w rotation in several modes), 15BPP bitmap modes, and the most fun you could ever get pushing hardware to the limits. Too bad it's a dying breed.

The NDS is a close second, but requires special modifications to get homebrew working.

[Dex]

My personal favorite ARM-based system: The GBA. Sound, hardware accelerated tile mapping (with h/w rotation in several modes), 15BPP bitmap modes, and the most fun you could ever get pushing hardware to the limits. Too bad it's a dying breed.

The NDS is a close second, but requires special modifications to get homebrew working.

But if you get the DSI, It lets you do as much homebrew as you like, just by running it off the SD card.

But i agree the GBA was cool, thats why i ported DexOS to it