I'm pretty sure they're talking about using Linux as a development environment.
The problem with this is that source and libraries are compiler specific, generally (speaking of embedded systems, uPs and uCs), so using a compiler other than what we're provided might be rather difficult. This is not to say that it's impossible to port the software, itself, but I think it would just be more trouble than it's worth.
Also, Linux-based assemblers, simulators, and programmers (software) are fairly common. Here's what I got from a query of apt (Debian), just now:
Quote:
fotoplasma@ziggomatic:~$ apt-cache search microchip
gpsim - Simulator for Microchip's PIC microcontrollers
gpsim-dev - Libraries needed only for building gpsim components
gputils - GNU PIC utilities
nitpic - Simulator for the Microchip PIC16C84 microcontroller
picasm - Assembler for the Microchip PIC-family Microcontrollers
picp - command line utility to drive a PICSTART programmer
simulpic - Microchip PIC device simulator
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I don't think any of them are applicable to our situation, though.