Re: Donation of ARM CubieTruck to anyone interested in developing ARM-Debian-desktop
1. Only open & free drivers needs to be integrated into Debian.
Non-free drivers just needs to be documented how-to-install. (I will
try to help where I can)
2. CubieTruck uses own Linux kernel fork 3.4.x (old) -- same is true
for other Allwinner-based products.
So not in mainline.
3. Yes, d-i integration is important (although many ARM systems just
deploy pre-made images, bypassing installer; Same is true for Android
systems)
On Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 11:03 PM, Konstantinos Margaritis
<markos@freevec.org> wrote:
> On Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:33:04 +0200
> Alexey Eromenko <al4321@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> My name is Alexey, and I'm interested in having ARM CubieTruck
>> hardware well supported by Debian for desktop (KDE) use.
>>
>> CubieTruck is an ARM mini-PC aka "Liliputer", based on AllWinner A20
>> SoC + 2 GB RAM + 8 GB flash + VGA (!) port + SATA + Ethernet + WiFi,
>> making it good enough for a real Debian desktop.
>>
>> CubieTruck
>> http://cubietruck.com/collections/frontpage/products/cubietruck-cubieboard3-cortex-a7-dual-core-2gb-ram-8gb-flash-with-wifi-bt
>
> That looks like a very cute piece of hardware!
>
>> My goal: It should have a working 2D, HD Video and 3D graphics as well
>> as audio and networking. (for my purposes even closed-source drivers
>> are "OK").
>
> But they're unlikely (the closed ones) to ever get in Debian proper,
> maybe in non-free but even that is no guarantee that they will work out
> of the box (see fglrx on x86/x86_64 ports to see what I mean!).
>
>> Some open-source drivers exist:
>> *2D - xf86-video-fbturbo - link:
>> https://github.com/ssvb/xf86-video-fbturbo *Hardware Video Decoder -
>> "CedarX" link:
>> http://linux-sunxi.org/Reverse_Engineering/Cedar_Status (should play
>> H.264 and WebM/VP8 Full HD 1080p video) *3D - open-source Lima or
>> closed-source Mali drivers.
>>
>> WiFi + Bluetooth - status unknown. (WiFi firmware is probably closed
>> source)
>
> you forgot the most important component, the kernel! is the
> SoC/platform supported in mainline kernel? I guess not, but is the
> vendor provided kernel based off a newer one (like 3.8, 3.10, etc?) or
> an ancient 3.0.x? The former obviously makes things easier but the
> latter is not a show-stopper in the end. But if kernel is
>
>> If you can - please help stabilize those experimental drivers, improve
>> them, test and integrate them into upcoming Debian 8.0.
>
> I guess you would also like Debian installer support, right? (if the
> platform is supported by arm multiplatform (armmp) kernels I guess it
> would be easier, but I have no idea about that.
>
>> I will donate few ARM CubieTruck samples to interested people. You'll
>> need a proof of past patches to any open-source project or community
>> involvement.
>
> I'd be interested to at least look at the hardware and maybe
> help in some area of hw enablement but I can only promise to try. I was
> already looking for a reasonably spec'ed newer arm board and this one
> is quite intriguing.
>
> Regards
>
> Konstantinos
>
> PS. For the record, I'm one of the armhf port maintainers
> (in Debian since '99) and did originally bootstrap
> armhf when I was working for Genesi and "borrowed" by Linaro. I think
> that should suffice as a proof of community involvement.
> PS2. If you need more dedicated and regular involvement, I might also
> be available for hire.
--
-Alexey Eromenko "Technologov"
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