Information Bank - June 2003

Building embedded Linux systems

Nowhere has Linux established itself so successfully as the operating system of choice as in the area of embedded systems. It can be found in everything from cell phones to water-filtration plants and in a wide range of automation components.

"Building Embedded Linux Systems" by Karin Yaghmour from O'Reilly (ISBN 0-596-00222-X, 391 pages, $44.95, £31.95, euro46.40) shows readers how to design and build embedded systems using Linux as the kernel and freely available open source tools as the framework.

It covers system components and gives an overview of the kernel architecture, device driver development, and system initialisation. Various chips and other hardware are covered, along with useful tools for monitoring and debugging. All explanations rely on the use of open source and free software packages and by showing how to build operating system components from pristine sources and how to find more documentation, the task of keeping complete control over an embedded operating system is simplified.

This book should be essential reading for embedded system designers at all levels of experience who intend to use Linux in current or future projects. The only other thing you need in addition is an internet connection to download the source code of components that are used.

O'Reilly
q129@industrialnetworking.co.uk

or find out more at http://www.oreilly.co.uk