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Dave Nebinger <dnebinger <at> joat.com> writes: |
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> Yes but we get back to the point that I had been trying to make - the |
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> embedded devices (even nanobots) would not need to build from source. I |
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> know if I had embedded nanobots I would want them focusing on the job they |
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> were embedded for, not recompiling source from the latest software updates. |
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> That's the distinction between a source based an binary based distribution. |
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> Use the source based distro to optimize for hardware then that is the |
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> template for the binary based distro to the embedded systems. |
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Well you may be right the majority of the time, but as complex sytems grow |
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and the number of difference in peripherals, sensors, and other variable |
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hardrware details, make issuing a single binary for upgrade, problematic. |
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Just like the kernel on a workstation can be compile specifically for a |
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target mix of devices and the applications then are compiled, sometimes |
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dependant on the kernel/rtos/executive/statemachine details for the binaries that |
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result. Furthermore, often you are resource constrained on an embedded |
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micro:timing, interrupts, code space, processor, cache, or ram limits |
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(just to name a few). It's very common, particulary in the 8/16 bit micro |
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world to make sifnification changes to the statemachine, just because |
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the bloating of features has now created performance or code space issues. |
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Often, Ansi C code is replaced with assembler to compact the executables. |
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You have a valid point, but, things are more complicated than that. Often |
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haredware gets replaced or upgraded because the increasing diversity of |
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the code bloats beyond what the resources can handle. Hareware designers |
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often screw up the amount of computational resources needed on an embedded |
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device. That's way so many Cell phones are thrown away each year, they |
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cannot properly handle software (rtos and apps) upgrades.... |
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Statistically you are correct. In actuality, a significant and growing protion |
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of embedded devices lack the ability (resources) to have their software upgraded |
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or not viable mechanism (like attaching your gameboy to a linux system) |
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exists to extend the life of the micro based product..... |
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Think about it. Microsoft and the OS vendors are abandoning 586, p1 and |
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p2 machines in droves. Yet linux/BSD et. al. offer extended life to |
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these aging machines. Embedded devices are only limited by the |
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forward thinking of their designers..... |
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Besides what else would I do with my fleeting free time? |
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James |
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-- |
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