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XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:52 am
by Folknology
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a new group on XCore Exchange here is a brief intro:

I would like this group to be a central place for all things opensource within XCores Exchange, please add any topics around opensource projects, communities and events that you may think are relevant to the XCore users with an interest in opensource software and hardware, particularly those relevant to XMOS and its technologies.
Here are some guidelines:
If you are working on an open source projects using XMOS technologies let us know here as well as adding them to the XCore projects area.
If you are part of an opensource community and want to use XMOS technology here is a good place to kick off the discussion.
If you are already using XMOS technologies with an opensource community, please tell us what your up to.
If you are aware of any opensource events that could be of interest to XEOS members please share them with us.
If you have any questions around relevant opensource tools and opensourcing software and hardware related to XMOS technologies let us know.
If you wish XMOS to be more involved in opensource, or wish any of the technologies to be improved for opensource this could be a good forum to express it.

Here is the XEOS group http://www.xcore.com/groups/opensource-group

I would also just like to point out that I do not work for XMOS and have no formal relationship with them except being a Linker,XCore member and customer, my role in this group is based on a passion for what I think XMOS products can bring to opensource hardware and software.
Regards
Al

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:55 am
by jason
This is a great idea. I am sure many people will be interested in this!

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:17 pm
by nagmier
I'm on board! I am all about open source! I love the idea! Without open source I don't think alot of people would find these types of technologies accessible.

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:51 pm
by Folknology
Welcome aboard nagmier

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:58 pm
by DrFingersSchaefer
Guys

Count me in, I am a big fan of standing on the shoulders of giants.

On the subject of Open Source I am casting about for a group of folk who may be interested in working on porting UcLinux to Xcore.

With a view to creating a group and project for this.

Open source development (Hardware and Software) has noticeably accelerated the rate of change and inovation. It is interesting to look back and see how much commercial exploitation of Patents and Copyrights has been holding back technological advance.

:ugeek:

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:00 pm
by Folknology
Welcome to XEOS DrFingersSchaefer

Personally I am not sure that linux on the XMOS (as is) would be easy, although UClinux has been ported to many architectures. I guess it could be done, but I would question what the benefit would be other than 'because I can' ..

The XMOS architecture offers an event driven model rather than an interrupt driven model, so even a realtime port of UClinux would not benefit from the architectural benefits that XMOS offers.

To me what would be interesting is a whole new kind of Operating System idea based around events and fixed latencies. It would be nice is it could be small and got out of ones way when needed. I have been thinking about it some time but haven't started a project around it yet as I am trying to better understand both the XMOS architecture and XC/Occam-Pi which it would have to be otimised for.

If however you want to learn how linux ticks from the bottom up some sort of realtime UClinux would be a cool exercise and useful to anyone familiar with an RT linux flavour. Plus of course you get the TCP/IP stack etc.. (which you would need more memory for of course).

I may well start an Operating System Conversation in the XEOS group see what everyone thinks.

regards
Al

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:17 pm
by Folknology
I have started a thread in the XEOS Group http://www.xcore.com/groups/posts/opens ... ing-system about Operating Systems in general with respect to XMOS or any event based architecture.

lets us know your thoughts.

Re: XEOS - XCore Exchange Opensource group

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:06 pm
by DrFingersSchaefer
Yup I agree uClinux as is is pretty much too fundamentaly different.

The established code base though is too large to ignore, particularly as we are starting from scratch. As you observed re TCP/IP there is also the range of apps that use this that are already writen, HTTP, WIFI, Routing and more.

There is an argument to porting as is and then tweaking the kernel etc whilst maintaining API level compatability with the usual apps.

The end product being uClinux or a uClinux alike application compatible OS that is event driven and uses the hardware dispatching and threads etc of the XCores to good effect. Clearly compatability would be at source level only.

This would also open the way to write apps under the OS that were entirely Xcore savvy.

Unfortunately as discussed here :-

http://www.xcore.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=75

The current memory capabilities rule out this expedient route to speedy commercial viability. If you atempt to by pass the limitation by writing an MMU you break uClinux anywau as it is MMU free.