OpenZaurus Project

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OpenZaurus Project

(Last updated: Mar. 22, 2002)

The OpenZaurus project was created as an alternative ROM image for the Sharp Zaurus Personal Mobile Tool. The original purpose behind the project was to create a ROM image (kernel + root filesystem) which was a bit closer to what the developer community specifically desired. The method by which this was accomplished was simply to use the Sharp ROM as a base and make alterations, bugfixes, additions and even removals, where necessary, to make the package more open.

Shortly after this, it was revamped completely. OpenZaurus is now a debian based embedded distribution built from source, from the ground up. Given its debian roots, it is quite similar to other embedded debian-based distributions, such as Familiar for the Ipaq. This means of doing things also facilitates an easy method for users to build their own custom ROM images.

Direction and Goals

Out intent is to continue to produce a solid Linux distribution for the Sharp Zaurus. We will continue to use the latest available Opie, and will make Picogui and X root filesystems available. Ports of OpenZaurus to other PDAs and/or other embedded systems are imminent, though we may need a name change at that point :)

Content

OpenZaurus was built from the ground up to be extremely configurable, and powerful. The addition of writable flash extended this further, by easily allowing people to make tweaks to their Z to be just the way they like it. The content in the rom image by default is kept very minimal, as the advent of the writable root filesystem means that the user can pick and choose themselves what they want in flash. OZ does not include Jeode, Hancom apps, or Opera at the moment due to license reasons. However, konqueror/embedded is available for a browser, and there exist scripts which allow you to build ipks of said applications from your Sharp ROM before switching to OpenZaurus. As to the Java VM, Kaffe is currently available for commandline items, an upcoming set of bindings for direct-to-framebuffer graphics in Java is coming soon, and we're looking into getting Qt2 bindings for Kaffe or some other open source VM.

The GUI included in OpenZaurus is Opie, which, though it started as a fork of the Qtopia codebase, has quite surpassed it in nearly every way, and includes numerous additional applications, such as the user manager, drawpad, et cetera. Picogui and X packages for OZ are also available, and rom images with them preinstalled will be coming soon.

[Above text is from the OpenZaurus.org home page.]

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