Re: Donation of ARM CubieTruck to anyone interested in developing ARM-Debian-desktop
UPDATE:
Here I found AllWinner Linux mainlining effort
http://linux-sunxi.org/Linux_mainlining_effort
On Fri, Nov 1, 2013 at 4:53 PM, Alexey Eromenko <al4321@gmail.com> wrote:
> Worth reading:
> Getting Allwinner SoC support upstream:
> http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM4NDc
>
> and here:
> http://lkml.indiana.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1306.0/02744.html
>
> 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"
--
-Alexey Eromenko "Technologov"
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