Re: how to have an ipaq slimmed down to be a 'browser device'?

Hi Bram,

On Wed, 2007-03-28 at 23:25 +0200, bram kortleven wrote:
> I was wondering if anyone thought (and/or realised) a way to have an
> ipaq running some linux kernel, graphical system and basic browser,
> including wifi-cf support.
> I'm looking into using an ipaq 3950 or 3850 as a touchscreen device for
> accessing the basic config screen of my home-automation project (running
> on a webserver).

I'm speaking in general, I haven't used a 3950 or 3850 so I don't know
what the state of the support for them is. Here are a few suggestions on
directions that I would look into...

> I want to create/use a distro on the ipaq, that just uses an open
> kernel, some very graphical desktop environment (even no desktop-stuff
> needed), wifi support through CF slot (or 5xxx series device in later
> project stage) and some sort of basic web browser...

You're getting down to the basics of embedded systems. From what's
available through the familiar project, I see two design choices for
you.

1. Start with a bootstrap image (nothing but the necessities) and start
building software until you get what you want / need. You could start w/
building X and then put one of the small browsers on it (i.e. dillo,
minimo, or you could install only the libs necessary for the browser in
the GPE project, or build Qt/Embedded and put Konqueror embedded on
it...). Then put in an init script to start the browser on boot and size
it up.

2. Start with a full Familiar image and start taking off everything that
you don't need. Most of this will just be the applications for GPE /
Opie that you won't be using. Then you will have a screen with only the
browser and maybe a few config options. It's generally pretty easy to
customize these environments in my experience.

OR

You could get something like Open Embedded and tell it to build an image
with only the apps that you need and go from there.

You could also check out some of the embedded systems vendors who do
Linux devices, some of them would have something similar to this
(although it might not exactly be a handheld).

The best option depends on your experience and how much you want to
leave on the device.

Hope that helps,

-TAS
Received on Wed Mar 28 2007 - 23:57:23 EST