Openmoko - User contributions [en]

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-05T03:42:13Z

Seanmcneil3:

== Android on Freerunner ==

Google has released their open source version of the Android phone software distribution. In order to use it on the Freerunner, a number of patches need to be applied and a compiler with armv4 java exception support needs to be used to compile the software.

== Compiler suite ==

Android is a little picky about the version of gcc compiler. It also requires some java exception support that isn't available for armv4 without a minor modification. The following tools are what I use to build Android:

=== Binutils 2.18 ===

At one time I had some armv5t code that was compiled into Android which would cause the linker to generate these blx instructions which fail on armv4. I'm not sure if this is still necessary, but I still have the following change applied to binutils:

<pre>
diff -urN binutils-2.18-orig/bfd/elf32-arm.c binutils-2.18/bfd/elf32-arm.c
--- binutils-2.18-orig/bfd/elf32-arm.c 2007-08-07 02:59:23.000000000 +0700
+++ binutils-2.18/bfd/elf32-arm.c 2008-03-15 11:30:17.000000000 +0700
@@ -3093,8 +3093,8 @@
static void check_use_blx(struct elf32_arm_link_hash_table *globals)
{
if (bfd_elf_get_obj_attr_int (globals->obfd, OBJ_ATTR_PROC,
- Tag_CPU_arch) > 2)
- globals->use_blx = 1;
+ Tag_CPU_arch) >= TAG_CPU_ARCH_V5T)
+ globals->use_blx = 0;
}

bfd_boolean
</pre>

configure --prefix={devel path}/android/cross --target=arm-eabi

=== gcc 4.2.4 with gcc41-java-arm4.patch ===

configure --prefix={devel path}/android/cross --target=arm-eabi --with-arch=armv4t --enable-shared --enable-threads --disable-nls --disable-libmudflap --enable-target-optspace --with-abi=aapcs --enable-multilib --disable-libssp --disable-libstdcxx --enable-languages=c,c++

=== java-6-sun ===

This is the standard Linux package available for most (all?) distributions.

== Patches ==

Coming soon. I've posted a number of them on the devel mailing list so far. Eventually, I expect to provide everything necessary for people to build Android for themselves.

== Images ==

I have placed an older 2.6.26 kernel with Android support at:

[http://people.openmoko.org/sean_mcneil/uImage-android uImage-android]

I have put up a jffs2 image that replaces rootfs on the Freerunner at:

[http://people.openmoko.org/sean_mcneil/androidfs.jffs2 androidfs.jffs2]

Warning!!! Installation of Android requires loading a new kernel and rootfs image onto your phone. I have not had time to produce a version that runs completely off an sdcard.

== Installation ==

As noted above, this installation requires you to wipe out the existing kernel and rootfs in NAND on your Freerunner. You also must have an SDCARD and it needs to be configured with two (2) primary partitions: First is VFAT/MSDOS (16 or 32) which acts as the /sdcard storage area for pictures, movies, music, etc. and the Second is an ext3 primary partition for use of internal Android /data area to store settings, caches, etc.

The first thing I suggest is to setup an SDCARD. You can flash the NAND first, but you must have an SDCARD with two partitions as stated before you'll be able to boot. I use a 2GB card which I have split in half. fdisk shows me:

/dev/mmcblk0p1 1 2454 996310 6 FAT16 
/dev/mmcblk0p2 2455 4908 996324 83 Linux

formatted as

sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/mmcblk0p1 
sudo mkfs.ext3 /dev/mmcblk0p2

There is no need to populate the ext3 partition at all. The VFAT partition can be populated with media content if you so desire.

With your SDCARD all set, you are ready to flash the kernel and rootfs:

sudo {path_to}/dfu-util -d 0x1d50:0x5119 -a kernel -D uImage-android 
sudo {path_to}/dfu-util -d 0x1d50:0x5119 -a rootfs -D androidfs.jffs2 

== Tools ==

To assist in debugging and to gain shell access to the phone with Android, you can

[http://people.openmoko.org/sean_mcneil/adb adb]

You should be able to connect to the phone as long as you start it up with the USB connected to your host. I don't think it will work if you plug it in after starting. Some helpful commands are:

ADBHOST=neo ./adb logcat - like a tail -f of the android log
ADBHOST=neo ./adb logcat -b radio - same as above for the radio logs
ADBHOST=neo ./adb shell - bring up a command shell to the phone
ADBHOST=neo ./adb kill-server - kill the background server on the host

== Known Issues ==

This version of the linux kernel will not successfully wake from suspend mode. Your battery life will be significantly lowered because of this and the phone will lock up unless you setup the phones screen timeout to never.

This version of the kernel also uses a keypad hack. The buttons layout is as follows:

Aux left-hand upper button is the "back" key.
Power button is:
menu button when pushed quickly,
end button when held for more than a second and released,
power-off if held for 10 seconds.

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-05T03:25:04Z

Seanmcneil3:

User talk:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-05T02:59:13Z

Seanmcneil3:

I had flashed it now on my FR but it doesn't work. I see only a black screen.

It works, but you need 2 partition on your SD card. First about 8MB formated vfat, secound ext3. That partitions must be empty.

--

I have flashed my GTA02 and android will boot but it does not accept the pin code for my SIM-card.
Jofry

Sean:
Hi Jofry, I've never really tried a locked SIM, so I don't know if the dialpad comes up to let you type in the code. Does it? If so, then I can probably fix the issue. Otherwise, we are kind of stuck until a virtual keyboard is developed.

--

Hi Sean, how can the imgages be put on the GTA02? I also flashed my GTA02 and android will not start, only black screen.

Sean:
I've just begun adding more information to the page which explains what is necessary to bring up Android. Sorry for the delay.

--

ssh ?

--

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-05T02:53:50Z

Seanmcneil3:

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-04T11:44:09Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Images */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-11-02T06:39:36Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Binutils 2.18 */

Distributions

2008-10-29T11:41:42Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Android */

{{Languages|Distributions}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;width:200px;background-color:#FF6600;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-weight:bold"
|Distributions
|-
! style='background-color:#333333;color:#FFFFFF'|
<div align=left>
* Openmoko (official)
** [[Om 2008.9 Update]]
** [[Om 2008.8]]
** [[Om 2007.2]]
** [[OpenmokoFramework|FSO]]
* Community
** [[SHR]]
** [[FDOM]]
* Other
** [[Qtopia]]
** [[Debian]]
** [[Gentoo]]
</div>
|-
|}
Openmoko distributions are designed to run on various mobile devices, with the primary aim of supporting Openmoko Inc.'s [[GTA01:Neo 1973|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 [[Supported devices|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 ==

As of October 1st, 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 FreeRunner is a reference platform for TrollTech's Qt Extended (formerly [[Qtopia]]) distribution.
* The branch currently supported by Openmoko Inc. is Om [[Om 2008.9 Update]] (ASU), which is a minor upgrade of [[Om 2008.8]]. Based on that, the community made the [[FDOM]] distribution by adding lots of fixes and applications to it.
* The trunk tip is [[FSO]], the next major release should be based on that. The [[Debian]] packaging team also track that.
* The big G did not make any announcement about an Android port.

To be technically precise, 2007.2, 2008.8, FSO and SHR of these are not directly independent distributions, but different 'release targets'. They are built out of different branches of the [[OpenEmbedded]] metadistribution source tree, e.g. 2007.2 and 2008.8 are to each other like Ubuntu Gutsy is to Kubuntu Hardy. A [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/roadmap roadmap] showing the number of remaining active tickets (in other words, bugs) is available on the bug [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ trac]king system (also accessible with the DOCS link at the top of every page).

One should only use feeds from packages of the same source-branch, else 'stuff will break', similar to like using .debs from Hardy on a Gutsy base system. Also note that there is NO supported upgrade path between these at the moment, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even an unbootable system. Thus please always use [[dfu-util]] to switch between the different 'distributions' for now or install them in a dual-boot setup (e.g. via sdcard or NFS).

== Openmoko Inc. driven release targets ==

=== Om 2008.9 ===

* [[Om 2008.9 Update]]

=== Om 2008.8 (ASU, April/August Software Update) ===

Om 2008.8 has been started to integrate the [http://trolltech.com/products/qtopia Qtopia] stack - on X11 - with a new set of graphically pleasing applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries. ASU is the internal name and is known as Om 2008.8 upon its release on August 8, 2008. Qtopia is a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack and you can expect all the standard feature phone applications to work in a solid way. It uses the Qtopia phone server. Since - contrary to standard Qtopia - it does not directly use the framebuffer, non-Qt applications can safely share the screen with Qt applications.

Om 2008.8 is maintained as "'''ASU-stable'''" with continuous updates.

* [[Om2008.8|Om 2008.8]]
* [[Downloads#Om_2008.8_images_.28ASU.29|Download > Om 2008.8 images (ASU)]]

=== Om 2007.2 (GTK) ===

[[Om 2007.2]] is for people who are familiar with the [http://www.gnome.org/mobile/ GNOME Mobile] initiative and who want to write applications that run on multiple devices running (parts of) GNOME Mobile. This includes Maemo, which runs on the Nokia Internet Tablets. The strength of the GTK+ stack is a UI and programming environment similar to what you run on your GNU/Linux desktop, if you’re into GNOME. The GTK+ has PIM applications based on the Evolution Data Server and runs the gsmd phone server. Although you can use them, the applications are still pretty rough und unfinished. Some people have problems with the stability of the phone server.

* [[Om 2007.2]]
* Availabilty: [http://downloads.openmoko.org/repository/Om2007.2/ Official Buildhost] and [[MokoMakefile]] support for development builds
* [[Downloads#Openmoko_2007.2_images_.28GTK.29|Download]]
* Several videos of this stack by [http://uk.youtube.com/user/freeyourphone Youtube user freeyourphone] and [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U05kZfURPig&NR=1 video review by BVB Tech]
This is the base-system which is installed on FreeRunner when it leaves the factory.

2007.2 development driven by openmoko inc. has basically stopped and resources are allocated in favor of 2008.8, while the community currently does the effort to 'rescue' the 2007.2 telephony apps and pull them to the future middleware from FSO (see SHR).
thus patches are still welcome, especially if they help development of SHR.

=== 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 [http://dbus.freesmartphone.org/ 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:

<blockquote>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.</blockquote>

* [[FSO]]
* [http://trac.freesmartphone.org:8000/trac-example Development tracker]
* [http://downloads.openmoko.org/framework/milestone3/ Download milestone 3]
* [http://freesmartphone.org freesmartphone.org]
* [http://downloads.freesmartphone.org fso-testing and fso-unstable images and feeds] (maintained by Rod Whitby, MokoMakefile author)

== Openmoko Community driven release targets ==

=== SHR - Stable Hybrid Release ===

Stable Hybrid Release is a combination of the middleware from FSO, some of the 2007.2 GTK software (telephony-ui, pim), and Om2008.8 that provides all of the functionality of the 2007.2 software, but with the stability of the FSO.

* [[Stable Hybrid Release]]

=== FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko) ===

[[FDOM]] is a rootfs/kernel image ready to flash of an OM2008.08-updates distribution with some apps already installed and some fixes posted in the lists done. Download from http://compartida.net/openmoko/FDOM . Use wget -c to retrieve the files because of the server seems to cut the connection time to time, and check the files MD5 hashes afterwards.

== 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 [http://www.trolltech.com Trolltech] aims to provide a ready-to use image for Openmoko devices.

* [[Qtopia|Qt Extended]]
* Download: [http://www.qtopia.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=6 Qtopia.net]

=== Debian ===

In the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the [http://wiki.debian.org/Teams/DebianFSO 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 :-)

* [[Debian]]

=== Gentoo ===

* [[Gentoo]]

=== Android ===

The Android mobile phone platform was developed by Google, and later the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Google has recently (Oct 21, 2008) released the majority [http://source.android.com/download source code] for the phone under Apache free and open-source [http://source.android.com/license license], with portions covered by other existing licenses, such as the Linux kernel under GPLv2.

[http://www.koolu.com Koolu.com] has announced that they will be '''selling the OpenMoko Freerunner with Android pre-installed''' beginning in November 2008, as well as offering '''free downloads of the Freerunner port of Android''' to existing Freerunner owners. Well-known open-source advocate [http://koolu.com/The-Koolu-Team/maddog.html Jon "maddog" Hall] is CTO and Ambassador for Koolu.

'''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 [http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/User:Seanmcneil3 Sean McNeil] for further details.

* [[Android]]
* [http://www.android.com/ Android.com]

[[Category:Distributions]]

== Features by distribution/release target ==

=== Connectivity ===

{| border=1 width=100% |
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qt Extended || Debian
|-
| Telephony || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
| SMS || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
| [[GPRS]] || Not through UI || Not through UI || Not through UI || N/A || {{No}} (3) || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
| WiFi || {{Yes}} || Not through UI || {{Yes}} (*) || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| VoIP || ?? || ?? || ?? || ?? || ?? || {{Yes}}
|-
| Bluetooth || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| GPS || {{Yes}} (1) || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1) || N/A || {{Yes}} (1) || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
|}

=== User Interaction ===

{| border=1 width=100% |
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qt Extended || Debian
|-
| Stylus friendly || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| Finger friendly || Partially || Partially || Partially || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{No}}
|-
| Accelerometer || {{No}}|| {{No}} || {{Yes}} [[Gestures|(1)]] || N/A || {{No}} || {{No}}
|-
|}

=== Applications ===

{| border=1 width=100% |
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qt Extended || Debian
|-
| Terminal || Basic (2) || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1) || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| PIM || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
| Phonebook || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{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}} [[Instant Messaging|(1)]] || ? || {{No}} || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
| Media Player || {{Yes}} || ? || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
|-
|}

=== Toolkits / Runtimes ===
{| border=1 width=100% |
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qt Extended || Debian
|-
| GTK+ || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| Qt/Qt Extended|| No || {{Yes}}? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| Middleware || gsmd/neod || freesmartphone.org || qtopia-x11 || freesmartphone.org || Qt Extended || freesmartphone.org
|-
| [[Java]] || Jalimo || Jalimo || Jalimo || ? || ? || {{Yes}} (CacaoVM, JamVM)
|-
| [[Python]] || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || ? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
|-
| [[Mono]] || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || ? || {{Yes}} (1)
|}

Footnotes:

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

(2) unusable due to lack of certain keyboard characters. [[Switching_Keyboards#Matchbox_keyboard|Various fixes available.]]

(3) there is a UI but it crashes the device when used.

(*) unstable

== External links ==

Original distribution descriptions are from Mickey Lauer's [http://www.vanille-media.de/site/index.php/2008/06/28/gtk-asu-fso-tmtla/ GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!].

[[Category:Distributions|Distributions]]

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:30:38Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Patches */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:29:26Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Compiler suite */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:27:48Z

Seanmcneil3: /* java-6-sun */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:27:21Z

Seanmcneil3: /* gcc 4.2.4 with gcc41-java-arm4.patch */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:26:55Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Binutils 2.18 */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:25:41Z

Seanmcneil3: /* Compiler suite */

User:Seanmcneil3

2008-10-29T11:24:11Z

Seanmcneil3: Android on Freerunner