Building your own GNU development toolchain

Using an efficient embedded development framework

Selecting, configuring, building, and installing a target-specific kernel

Creating a complete target root filesystem

Setting up, manipulating, and using solid-state storage devices

Installing and configuring a bootloader for the target

Cross-compiling a slew of utilities and packages

Debugging your embedded system using a plethora of tools and techniques

Details are provided for various target architectures and hardware configurations, including a thorough review of Linux's support for embedded hardware. All explanations rely on the use of open source and free software packages. By presenting how to build the operating system components from pristine sources and how to find more documentation or help, this book greatly simplifies the task of keeping complete control over one's embedded operating system, whether it be for technical or sound financial reasons.

Author Karim Yaghmour, a well-known designer and speaker who is responsible for the Linux TraceToolkit, starts by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of Linux as an embedded operating system. Licensing issues are included, followed by a discussion of the basics of building embedded Linux systems. The configuration, setup, and use of over forty different open source and free software packages commonly used in embedded Linux systems are also covered. uClibc, BusyBox, U-Boot, OpenSSH, thttpd, tftp, strace, and gdb are among the packages discussed.