Tiny Core Linux

Off-Topic => Off-Topic - Tiny Tux's Corner => Topic started by: kiwi on March 21, 2021, 07:56:44 PM

Title: TinyCore on Cortex M4F
Post by: kiwi on March 21, 2021, 07:56:44 PM

just wondering if anyone has gotten a userland linux working like TinyCore on ARM Cortex M. I would like to solar power a microcontroller, which is why I'd like to run linux on it. https://ambiq.com/apollo4-blue/ This has 3.8MB RAM (1.8 MB SRAM & 2MB MRAM). At 192mhz, I think it would be fast enough to run Tinycore.

Also curious if there is a way to select packages in tinycore before compiling a live image, kinda like Cubic for Ubuntu:

https://ostechnix.com/how-to-create-a-custom-ubuntu-live-iso-image-with-cubic/

Ideally I could get Dcore down to 3.5MB but add a window manager and boot from SRAM. this window manager requires 0.2MB RAM: https://github.com/mackstann/tinywm I'm more interested in proof of concept than using it for an actual production environment.

I'd like a couple apps, like pdf viewer and text editor, with the ability to load from an uSD card more.
Other window managers I have in mind are: https://unauthorised.org/dhog/9wm.html (requires 0.4MBRAM) & Twm (1MB) :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twm

Title: Re: TinyCore on Cortex M4F
Post by: curaga on March 22, 2021, 12:32:53 AM

The linux kernel itself requires > 4mb ram.

Title: Re: TinyCore on Cortex M4F
Post by: bmarkus on March 22, 2021, 02:16:52 AM

I would not consider to run Linux an any Cortex Mx chips. There are nice alternatives like MicroPython, various RTOS's, etc.

It may worth to read:

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/27594/what-operating-systems-have-been-ported-to-cortex-m3

Title: Re: TinyCore on Cortex M4F
Post by: kiwi on March 22, 2021, 11:49:32 AM

Quote from: curaga on March 22, 2021, 12:32:53 AM

The linux kernel itself requires > 4mb ram.

Technically not, but it requires lots of kernel modification. I am currently corresponding with Bootlin about it, since I do not know how to do it myself, at least yet:

https://bootlin.com/pub/conferences/2017/jdll/opdenacker-embedded-linux-in-less-than-4mb-of-ram/opdenacker-embedded-linux-in-less-than-4mb-of-ram.pdf

https://www.emcraft.com/imxrt1050-evk-board/what-is-minimal-footprint

Title: Re: TinyCore on Cortex M4F
Post by: kiwi on March 22, 2021, 11:53:20 AM

Quote from: bmarkus on March 22, 2021, 02:16:52 AM

I would not consider to run Linux an any Cortex Mx chips. There are nice alternatives like MicroPython, various RTOS's, etc.

It may worth to read:

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/27594/what-operating-systems-have-been-ported-to-cortex-m3

@curaga & @bmarkus, thank you for the responses and links!