Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankJ
+1 applying for Beta. That is where you can provide the best feedback.
C++ is going to Eclipse for 2015 (along with Java). You can search around NI's website & find information on how they implement Linux. They are doing it on other platforms than the RoboRio I doubt that it is a hack.  The current Crio uses a different operating system. |
OK, I've applied for the Beta. Thanks for the link.
I've been using Eclipse for embedded Linux work on ARM architectures since 2006 and I helped develop some of the VxWorks operating system-level code that ran on the cRio. So, I'm familiar with the issues of translating from one to the other. Also, I'm on the Arduino Tre beta-test team where we're mixing a Beaglebone black and an Arduino Leonardo on the same board. In that process, I've also rebuilt the kernel and perfomed several tests to prove out functionality.
From what I've read so far, the NI Linux release looks like a standard 3.x kernel with the PREEMPT_RT patch applied. But, I'll wait to actually see some of it to make sure. As for the processor, the Zynq 7000 used on the roboRIO is a known quantity. So, they shouldn't be having too many issues with the kernel port these days. The only issue will be the device tree structure that they've put together for the BSP on the Zynq. Given the pinmux isses of so many I/O pins, but no way to route them, it's easy to make mistakes.
Due to the limited storage on the roboRIO, the Linux distribution will be a tricky tuning job that will be easy to miss things. I'm sure they're probably using Yocto to build it because that will give the best size. But, it will be interesting to see what they've included on the file system.
In any case, 2015 is shaping up to be a really interesting season. There are a lot of exciting possibilities for the new control system. But, only time will tell if they can be realized.
Thanks!
Mike