Popular embedded Linux toolsuite goes free

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Jun. 16, 2005

A German vendor claiming to have the best-selling embedded Linux distribution in Europe has begun offering a free version of its product as a download from its website. FreeToolbox lets developers use a command-line version of SYSGO's popular ELinOS embedded Linux development environment free of charge.

FreeToolbox provides a set of command-line tools for creating embedded Linux systems. The tools automatically build a filesystem, and assist with creation of the target system boot image. The free toolsuite also provides a number of project management functions, including project-related file management and CVS support. Additionally, "existing application software can be integrated easily into the new system," adds SYSGO.

The free toolsuite version is currently based on the 2.4.25 and 2.6.9 Linux kernels and supports x86 as well as ARM and PowerPC processors. The toolsuite includes a cross development kit, support for several boot strategies, and precompiled binaries, and it also comes with a demo program.

Specifically, the company lists the following features and specs for FreeToolbox:

Target platforms and BSPs:
- x86: i386
- PPC 4xx: AMCC 4xx (ex IBM),
- PPC 60x: MPC5200, MPC60x, MPC824x
- PPC 8xx: MPC8xx
- ARM/XScale: ARM7, ARM9, StrongARM, SA11xx
Tool features:
- ELinOS project development environment with command line tools such as cloneproject.
- Creation of complete embedded systems by make boot.
- Automatical creation of the target file system.
- Project related file management that ensures reproducible results by using CVS.
- Cross Development: binutils-2.14, gcc-3.2.3, glibc-2.3.2, gdb-6.3
- Kernel: 2.4.25, 2.6.9
- Boot strategies: x86: syslinux (floppy, cdrom, PXE-boot), Etherboot, Lilo, PPC: zImage, U-Boot, ARM: Blob, U-Boot
- Target binaries (precompiled): bash, busybox, tinylogin, strace, ...
- Demo: Busybox Demo as minimal Linux system

SYSGO CEO Knut Degen said, "With the FreeToolbox we provide a free ELinOS version for the first time, that contains tested components and ensures quality. Developers get access to a development environment with harmonized components based on our commercial products."

Last November, SYSGO launched ELinOS 3.1, its full-fledgedembedded Linux operating system and toolsuite, at the Electronica tradeshow in Munich, citing Windows hosting and "many improvements for the embedded market." The full commercial version of ELinOS includes the Eclipse-based Codeo IDE (integrated development environment) and Cognito, a graphical system browser for run-time performance analysis.

Further details on FreeToolbox and a link for downloading it free-of-charge are available here.

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