
"It is common to see newbies asking in microcontroller forums if they can run Linux on their puny little 8-bit micro. The results are usually laughter. It is also common to see, in Linux forums, asked what the minimum specs for Linux are. The common answer is that it requires a 32-bit architecture and an MMU and at least a megabyte of ram to fit the kernel.
This project aims to (and succeeds in) shatter(ing) these notions. The board you see on the right is based on an ATmega1284p. I've made one with an ATmega644a as well, with equal success. This board features no other processor and boots Linux 2.6.34. In fact, it can even bring up a full Ubuntu stack, including (if you have the time) X and gnome."
Member since:
2006-07-14
True, it would be an interesting follow up article to hear about that process.
Its sort of like a story about the study of the extinct dodo bird in its native habitat that throws out a line like " But the Dodo is extinct, so this would require time travel. So I built a time machine. After getting to the proper time....."
I'd find both parts of that article interesting and impressive, but the time machine is something I would actually want to use.