introduction.txt 1.3 KB

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  1. // -*- mode:doc; -*-
  2. // vim: set syntax=asciidoc:
  3. About OpenADK
  4. =============
  5. OpenADK is a tool that simplifies and automates the process of
  6. building a complete Linux system for an embedded system, using
  7. cross-compilation. ADK stands for appliance development kit.
  8. In order to achieve this, OpenADK is able to generate a
  9. cross-compilation toolchain, a root filesystem, a Linux kernel image
  10. and a bootloader for your target.
  11. OpenADK is useful mainly for people working with embedded systems,
  12. but can be used by people playing with emulators (like Qemu, Virtualbox
  13. or Aranym) or small netbooks (like Lemote Yeelong) needing a fast
  14. and small Linux system.
  15. Embedded systems often use processors that are not the regular x86
  16. processors everyone is used to having in his PC. They can be PowerPC
  17. processors, MIPS processors, ARM processors, etc.
  18. OpenADK supports numerous processors and their variants; it also comes
  19. with default configurations for some embedded systems and netbooks.
  20. (Raspberry PI, Sharp Zaurus, Lemote Yeelong, IBM X40 and more)
  21. OpenADK is not a Linux distribution and there are no releases or binary
  22. packages available. If you need something like that, better switch to
  23. something else. OpenADK builds everything from source. There are only a
  24. few exceptions to this rule (f.e. some bootloaders and firmware files for
  25. wireless network cards).