Distributions

From Openmoko

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Which distribution should I use ?: minor language)
m (Status as of November 9rd, 2008: minor fixs)
Line 38: Line 38:
  
 
===Status as of November 9rd, 2008 ===
 
===Status as of November 9rd, 2008 ===
* The phones ship with [[Om 2007.2]]. It is not supported by Openmoko Inc. anymore. But community developpers continue to work on it as the [[SHR]] project.
+
* The phones ship with [[Om 2007.2]]. It is not supported by Openmoko Inc. anymore. But community developpers continue to work on its phone stack in the [[SHR]] project.
 
* The branch currently supported by Openmoko Inc. is [[Om 2008.9 Update]], which is a minor upgrade of [[Om 2008.8]] (formerly named ASU). Based on that, the community made the [[FDOM]] distribution by adding lots of fixes and applications to it.
 
* The branch currently supported by Openmoko Inc. is [[Om 2008.9 Update]], which is a minor upgrade of [[Om 2008.8]] (formerly named ASU). Based on that, the community made the [[FDOM]] distribution by adding lots of fixes and applications to it.
 
* The trunk tip is a "base image" on which the next major release should be based. This next release can be previewed by installing milestones of the [[FSO]] - Free Smartphone.Org project. The [[Debian]] packaging team also track that branch.
 
* The trunk tip is a "base image" on which the next major release should be based. This next release can be previewed by installing milestones of the [[FSO]] - Free Smartphone.Org project. The [[Debian]] packaging team also track that branch.

Revision as of 21:22, 9 November 2008


Distributions

Openmoko distributions are designed to run on various mobile devices, with the primary aim of supporting Openmoko Inc.'s Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner phones. They are GNU/Linux distributions -- complete operating systems with more or less user applications. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a multiboot system with two distributions installed.

While the Openmoko distributions will run on other mobile devices too, some other software distributions will also run on the Openmoko Inc. phones (see below).

For downloads see Download, for installation instructions see Flashing the Neo FreeRunner.

Contents

About distributions

Which distribution should I use ?

  • Most new users find FDOM the most comprehensive and functional distribution.
  • If you want "just a phone", try Qtopia.
  • If you want to develop anything that last, your platform is FSO (and the choice between EFL, GTK+, Qt, Java, Python or whatever is open).
  • SHR, Debian, Gentoo and Android are for people who do not need to ask which distribution they should use.
  • Tracking the "base image" by updating daily from testing/unstable is a different game either.

Status as of November 9rd, 2008

  • The phones ship with Om 2007.2. It is not supported by Openmoko Inc. anymore. But community developpers continue to work on its phone stack in the SHR project.
  • The branch currently supported by Openmoko Inc. is Om 2008.9 Update, which is a minor upgrade of Om 2008.8 (formerly named ASU). Based on that, the community made the FDOM distribution by adding lots of fixes and applications to it.
  • The trunk tip is a "base image" on which the next major release should be based. This next release can be previewed by installing milestones of the FSO - Free Smartphone.Org project. The Debian packaging team also track that branch.
  • The FreeRunner is a reference platform for TrollTech's Qt Extended (formerly Qtopia) distribution.
  • The Android port is work-in-progress.

Warnings

  • Stable in the FreeRunner world does not mean the same thing as stable in Debian world.
  • Most distributions use the same bootloader, kernel, drivers and hardware. Therefore, the same low level bugs are commonly found in all distributions. The latest and greatest software usually has most bug fixes, plus a whole set of new fresh bugs.
  • Most of these distributions also have package repositories. It is a BAD idea to feed from another distribution's repository.
  • Upgrade path between these distributions are mostly not tested, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even an unbootable system. It is advisable to reflash the whole filesystem with dfu-util to switch between the different distributions, with the reminder that a dual-boot setup (e.g. via sdcard or NFS) can be used.

Openmoko Inc. driven release targets

These different 'release targets' are built out of different branches of the OpenEmbedded metadistribution source tree.

Om 2008.9

The Om 2008.9 Update is the first point release after the initial Om 2008.8 release. Openmoko recommends that all existing installations of Om 2008.8 should be updated to that version. Quality-wise, we are still far from the goal, but this version includes general stability enhancing operating system improvements and a new splash screen. No applications were added or removed. Users with basic telephony needs will find it tolerable as an everyday phone.

Main article: Om 2008.9 Update


Om 2008.8

Om 2008.8 was released on August 8, 2008, to replace 2007.2. Prior to that, its codename was ASU (April/August Software Update). This is still the name of the branch in the version control system. This distribution integrates the Qtopia phone stack with a set of new Openmoko applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries. Qtopia being a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack, the standard phone applications (dialer, contacts, calculator, calendar) work better than in 2007.2. The Qtopia used in 2008.8 was ported to run on X11, contrary to standard Qtopia which uses the framebuffer. This allows non-Qt applications to safely share the screen with Qt applications. This is a .0 release, many unresolved issues remain in the lower layers (kernel power management, sound, wifi drivers...).

Main article: Om2008.8


Om 2007.2

Om 2007.2 is the base-system which is installed on FreeRunner when it leaves the factory. The interface was totally finger-oriented, optimized for 285ppi, and very orange. It used the GTK+ stack, which is part of the GNOME Mobile platform. This distribution is now considered obsolete and not being worked on by Openmoko Inc or by OpenedHand. There is a community effort (see SHR) to port the GTK based telephony applications to the future middleware from FSO.

Main article: Om 2007.2


FSO - freesmartphone.org

FSO has been started to overcome the deficiencies both of the 2007.2 and the 2008.8 stack, namely to come up with an extensible framework that gives developers the infrastructure they need to create solid and exciting software products based on the Openmoko platform. An infrastructure that supports competing UIs while we can collaborate on developing services, making the framework strong . Here, the focus is on stable highlevel services that you can access from whatever language or UI that supports dbus. People report that despite its infancy, e.g. the phone server part in FSO is already more solid than anywhere else.

It is not really intended as future release-target, but used as a 'vessel' or 'container' for the development and testing of the new, future middleware.

The applications installed are intended as test-tools for the new middleware and not as fully featured, end user oriented applications. (even if it looks that way sometimes)

In the words of Mickey, project manager:

FSO is only a distro because "we can" (thanks to OpenEmbedded). Zhone is an independent UI application based on the FSO framework to facilitate testing. If you want to build own UIs or custom applications on the forthcoming Openmoko dbus service framework, then the FSO-image is a good starting point.
Main article: FSO


Openmoko Community driven release targets

SHR - Stable Hybrid Release

SHR is a community driven distribution. It contains some basic GTK+ based applications which make use of the FSO. There currently is a EFL (with elementary) dialer, messages and contacts application programmed in C. As of November 9th, 2008, there is no stable release of this distribution yet.

Main article: Stable Hybrid Release


FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko)

FDOM is a distribution based on Openmoko's currently supported image, updated with many ready-to-use applications and with fixes posted in the mailing lists. A combination of applications (everything goes) and fixes to demonstrate the capabilities of the Freerunner and to have a functional phone (sort of). This all while retaining the ability to update through the official feeds.

Main article: FDOM


Non-Openmoko distributions

These are not Openmoko (and OE) based distributions. These are alternatives you can run on your Openmoko phones.

Qt Extended

The Qt Extended distribution (formerly known as Qtopia) from Trolltech aims to provide a ready-to use image for Openmoko devices.

Debian

In the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the pkg-fso team:

It’s not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the Stable Hybrid Release software in our archive.
So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)
Main article: Debian


Gentoo

Main article: Gentoo


Android

Android is a mobile phone platform by Google, and later the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).

Openmoko is fully supporting Android running on the Freerunner. Details along with images are being constructed at the moment. Visit the user web page for Sean McNeil for further details. And you can download kernel and image here

Features by distribution/release target

Connectivity

Om 2008.9 Om 2008.8 Om 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gentoo Android
Telephony  ?? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes (1)  ?? no
SMS  ?? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes (1)  ?? no
GPRS  ?? Not through UI Not through UI Not through UI Not through UI  ?? yes yes (1)  ?? no
WiFi  ?? yes (*) yes Not through UI  ?? yes yes yes  ?? no
VoIP  ??  ??  ??  ??  ?? yes  ?? yes  ?? no
Bluetooth  ?? yes yes no  ?? yes yes yes  ?? no
GPS (1)  ?? yes (1) yes yes yes yes yes (1) yes (1)  ?? no

User Interaction

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
Stylus friendly  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Finger friendly  ?? Partially Partially Partially yes  ?? yes no  ??  ??
Accelerometer  ?? yes (1) no no no  ?? no no  ??  ??


Applications

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
Terminal  ?? yes (1) Basic (2) yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
PIM  ?? yes yes no N/A  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Phonebook  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Dialer  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Web Browser  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (midori)  ??  ??
Mail Client  ?? yes  ?  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
XMPP Client  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?  ?  ?? no yes (1)  ??  ??
Media Player  ?? yes (1) yes  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??

Toolkits / Runtimes

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
GTK+  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? no yes  ??  ??
Qt/Qt Extended  ?? yes no yes  ? yes ?  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Middleware  ?? qtopia-x11 gsmd/neod FSO FSO  ?? Qt Extended FSO  ??  ??
Java  ?? Jalimo Jalimo Jalimo no  ??  ?? CacaoVM, JamVM  ??  ??
Python  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Mono  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?? no  ??  ?? yes (1)  ??  ??

Images

Latest and stable combinations for Neo FreeRunner gta02

OM FDOM Qt Extended Android
current bootloader U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up
future bootloader Qi from Andy version s3c6410 Qi from Andy version s3c6410 Qi from Andy version s3c6410
splash U-Boot from OM version 2008.9 U-Boot from OM version 2008.9 U-Boot from OM version 2008.9
kernel Linux from OM version 2008.9-gta02-20080916 Linux from mwester version gta02-g291a9d50 or from treviño version gta02-git9beef3fc6239895d Linux from mwester version gta02-g291a9d50 or from treviño version gta02-git9beef3fc6239895d Linux from McNiel version 2.6.26-android
modules  ? Linux from mwester version min-gta02-g291a9d50 or all-gta02-g291a9d50 Linux from mwester version min-gta02-g291a9d50 or all-gta02-g291a9d50
rootfs OM from OM version 2008.9-gta02-20080916 FDOM from TuxBrain version 200809_20081023 QtExtended from TrollTech version gta02-4.4.2 or from Hypnotize version gta02-4.4.2-working Android from McNiel version android

Footnotes:

(1) works, but need additional software to be installed

(2) unusable due to lack of certain keyboard characters. Various fixes available.

(*) unstable

External links

Original distribution descriptions are from Mickey Lauer's GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!.

Personal tools


Distributions

Openmoko distributions are designed to run on various mobile devices, with the primary aim of supporting Openmoko Inc.'s Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner phones. They are GNU/Linux distributions -- complete operating systems with more or less user applications. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a multiboot system with two distributions installed.

While the Openmoko distributions will run on other mobile devices too, some other software distributions will also run on the Openmoko Inc. phones (see below).

For downloads see Download, for installation instructions see Flashing the Neo FreeRunner.

About distributions

Which distribution should I use ?

  • Most new users find FDOM the most comprehensive and functional distribution.
  • If you want "just a phone", try Qtopia.
  • If you want to develop anything that last, your platform is FSO (and the choice between EFL, GTK+, Qt, Java, Python or whatever is open).
  • SHR, Debian, Gentoo and Android are for people who do not need to ask which distribution they should use.
  • Tracking the "base image" by updating daily from testing/unstable is a different game either.

Status as of November 9rd, 2008

  • The phones ship with Om 2007.2. It is not supported by Openmoko Inc. anymore. But community developpers continue to work on its phone stack in the SHR project.
  • The branch currently supported by Openmoko Inc. is Om 2008.9 Update, which is a minor upgrade of Om 2008.8 (formerly named ASU). Based on that, the community made the FDOM distribution by adding lots of fixes and applications to it.
  • The trunk tip is a "base image" on which the next major release should be based. This next release can be previewed by installing milestones of the FSO - Free Smartphone.Org project. The Debian packaging team also track that branch.
  • The FreeRunner is a reference platform for TrollTech's Qt Extended (formerly Qtopia) distribution.
  • The Android port is work-in-progress.

Warnings

  • Stable in the FreeRunner world does not mean the same thing as stable in Debian world.
  • Most distributions use the same bootloader, kernel, drivers and hardware. Therefore, the same low level bugs are commonly found in all distributions. The latest and greatest software usually has most bug fixes, plus a whole set of new fresh bugs.
  • Most of these distributions also have package repositories. It is a BAD idea to feed from another distribution's repository.
  • Upgrade path between these distributions are mostly not tested, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even an unbootable system. It is advisable to reflash the whole filesystem with dfu-util to switch between the different distributions, with the reminder that a dual-boot setup (e.g. via sdcard or NFS) can be used.

Openmoko Inc. driven release targets

These different 'release targets' are built out of different branches of the OpenEmbedded metadistribution source tree.

Om 2008.9

The Om 2008.9 Update is the first point release after the initial Om 2008.8 release. Openmoko recommends that all existing installations of Om 2008.8 should be updated to that version. Quality-wise, we are still far from the goal, but this version includes general stability enhancing operating system improvements and a new splash screen. No applications were added or removed. Users with basic telephony needs will find it tolerable as an everyday phone.

Main article: Om 2008.9 Update


Om 2008.8

Om 2008.8 was released on August 8, 2008, to replace 2007.2. Prior to that, its codename was ASU (April/August Software Update). This is still the name of the branch in the version control system. This distribution integrates the Qtopia phone stack with a set of new Openmoko applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries. Qtopia being a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack, the standard phone applications (dialer, contacts, calculator, calendar) work better than in 2007.2. The Qtopia used in 2008.8 was ported to run on X11, contrary to standard Qtopia which uses the framebuffer. This allows non-Qt applications to safely share the screen with Qt applications. This is a .0 release, many unresolved issues remain in the lower layers (kernel power management, sound, wifi drivers...).

Main article: Om2008.8


Om 2007.2

Om 2007.2 is the base-system which is installed on FreeRunner when it leaves the factory. The interface was totally finger-oriented, optimized for 285ppi, and very orange. It used the GTK+ stack, which is part of the GNOME Mobile platform. This distribution is now considered obsolete and not being worked on by Openmoko Inc or by OpenedHand. There is a community effort (see SHR) to port the GTK based telephony applications to the future middleware from FSO.

Main article: Om 2007.2


FSO - freesmartphone.org

FSO has been started to overcome the deficiencies both of the 2007.2 and the 2008.8 stack, namely to come up with an extensible framework that gives developers the infrastructure they need to create solid and exciting software products based on the Openmoko platform. An infrastructure that supports competing UIs while we can collaborate on developing services, making the framework strong . Here, the focus is on stable highlevel services that you can access from whatever language or UI that supports dbus. People report that despite its infancy, e.g. the phone server part in FSO is already more solid than anywhere else.

It is not really intended as future release-target, but used as a 'vessel' or 'container' for the development and testing of the new, future middleware.

The applications installed are intended as test-tools for the new middleware and not as fully featured, end user oriented applications. (even if it looks that way sometimes)

In the words of Mickey, project manager:

FSO is only a distro because "we can" (thanks to OpenEmbedded). Zhone is an independent UI application based on the FSO framework to facilitate testing. If you want to build own UIs or custom applications on the forthcoming Openmoko dbus service framework, then the FSO-image is a good starting point.
Main article: FSO


Openmoko Community driven release targets

SHR - Stable Hybrid Release

SHR is a community driven distribution. It contains some basic GTK+ based applications which make use of the FSO. There currently is a EFL (with elementary) dialer, messages and contacts application programmed in C. As of November 9th, 2008, there is no stable release of this distribution yet.

Main article: Stable Hybrid Release


FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko)

FDOM is a distribution based on Openmoko's currently supported image, updated with many ready-to-use applications and with fixes posted in the mailing lists. A combination of applications (everything goes) and fixes to demonstrate the capabilities of the Freerunner and to have a functional phone (sort of). This all while retaining the ability to update through the official feeds.

Main article: FDOM


Non-Openmoko distributions

These are not Openmoko (and OE) based distributions. These are alternatives you can run on your Openmoko phones.

Qt Extended

The Qt Extended distribution (formerly known as Qtopia) from Trolltech aims to provide a ready-to use image for Openmoko devices.

Debian

In the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the pkg-fso team:

It’s not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the Stable Hybrid Release software in our archive.
So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)
Main article: Debian


Gentoo

Main article: Gentoo


Android

Android is a mobile phone platform by Google, and later the Open Handset Alliance (OHA).

Openmoko is fully supporting Android running on the Freerunner. Details along with images are being constructed at the moment. Visit the user web page for Sean McNeil for further details. And you can download kernel and image here

Features by distribution/release target

Connectivity

Om 2008.9 Om 2008.8 Om 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gentoo Android
Telephony  ?? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes (1)  ?? no
SMS  ?? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes (1)  ?? no
GPRS  ?? Not through UI Not through UI Not through UI Not through UI  ?? yes yes (1)  ?? no
WiFi  ?? yes (*) yes Not through UI  ?? yes yes yes  ?? no
VoIP  ??  ??  ??  ??  ?? yes  ?? yes  ?? no
Bluetooth  ?? yes yes no  ?? yes yes yes  ?? no
GPS (1)  ?? yes (1) yes yes yes yes yes (1) yes (1)  ?? no

User Interaction

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
Stylus friendly  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Finger friendly  ?? Partially Partially Partially yes  ?? yes no  ??  ??
Accelerometer  ?? yes (1) no no no  ?? no no  ??  ??


Applications

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
Terminal  ?? yes (1) Basic (2) yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
PIM  ?? yes yes no N/A  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Phonebook  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Dialer  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
Web Browser  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (midori)  ??  ??
Mail Client  ?? yes  ?  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??
XMPP Client  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?  ?  ?? no yes (1)  ??  ??
Media Player  ?? yes (1) yes  ?  ?  ?? yes yes (1)  ??  ??

Toolkits / Runtimes

Om 2008.9 Om2008.8 2007.2 FSO SHR FDOM Qt Extended Debian Gento Android
GTK+  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? no yes  ??  ??
Qt/Qt Extended  ?? yes no yes  ? yes ?  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Middleware  ?? qtopia-x11 gsmd/neod FSO FSO  ?? Qt Extended FSO  ??  ??
Java  ?? Jalimo Jalimo Jalimo no  ??  ?? CacaoVM, JamVM  ??  ??
Python  ?? yes yes yes yes  ?? yes yes  ??  ??
Mono  ?? yes (1) yes (1)  ?? no  ??  ?? yes (1)  ??  ??

Images

Latest and stable combinations for Neo FreeRunner gta02

OM FDOM Qt Extended Android
current bootloader U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up U-Boot from OM version gta02v5_and_up
future bootloader Qi from Andy version s3c6410 Qi from Andy version s3c6410 Qi from Andy version s3c6410
splash U-Boot from OM version 2008.9 U-Boot from OM version 2008.9 U-Boot from OM version 2008.9
kernel Linux from OM version 2008.9-gta02-20080916 Linux from mwester version gta02-g291a9d50 or from treviño version gta02-git9beef3fc6239895d Linux from mwester version gta02-g291a9d50 or from treviño version gta02-git9beef3fc6239895d Linux from McNiel version 2.6.26-android
modules  ? Linux from mwester version min-gta02-g291a9d50 or all-gta02-g291a9d50 Linux from mwester version min-gta02-g291a9d50 or all-gta02-g291a9d50
rootfs OM from OM version 2008.9-gta02-20080916 FDOM from TuxBrain version 200809_20081023 QtExtended from TrollTech version gta02-4.4.2 or from Hypnotize version gta02-4.4.2-working Android from McNiel version android

Footnotes:

(1) works, but need additional software to be installed

(2) unusable due to lack of certain keyboard characters. Various fixes available.

(*) unstable

External links

Original distribution descriptions are from Mickey Lauer's GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!.