The $8 Linux Computer

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 17, 2022, 3:51 PM UTC

solarkraft wrote: post #71

pantalaimon wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference is that with RTOSes you typically link the application together with the OS, whereas with Linux you can dynamically load applications at run-time.

This is a big deal to me. What's stopping normal microcontroller platforms like Zephyr from providing dynamic loading of programs? It'd be great for iteration to have a solid OS that cares about networking and updates and a an application layer you can move fast and break things with without risking soft-bricking your device. I'm currently finding this with interpreted platforms like Espruino and Micropython, but don…

Post by puzzlingcaptcha » Sat, Dec 17, 2022, 3:59 PM UTC

Jorengarenar wrote: post #29

Wasn't Pi Zero around $5 on release?

Post by repiret » Sat, Dec 17, 2022, 4:13 PM UTC

tuetuopay wrote: post #64

blippage wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me see if I have this straight ... it's a device that can run a general OS like Linux, but say, have a core that could be run real-time, with all the goodies like timers and stuff that we expect from microcontrollers? If so, then that would be pretty awesome. I think that people have been trying to get real-time working on Raspberry Pis. It seems that they get kinda close, but never manage to get all the way.

Most modern ARM SoCs capable of running Linux have one or more cortex M cores, down from M1s to M4s (I have yet to see M7s). It is precisely for what you describe.

Post by wenus » Sat, Dec 17, 2022, 4:14 PM UTC

riskable wrote: post #66

turbobooster wrote: post #36

Why would you use this instead if some rpi version?

Better embedded GPIO. RPi Zero is a great little board/computer but the capabilities of the GPIO pins are lacking in a lot of ways. Speed being the biggest problem. This little $8 board will run circles around even an RPi 4 when it comes to doing something like controlling a long strip of ws2812b RGB LEDs, as an example.

Post by odiroot » Sat, Dec 17, 2022, 4:18 PM UTC

dragontamer wrote: post #56

sandos wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wooha, thats kind of awesome. Does this mean you could make your own zigbee sensors or whatever?

Zigbee? My man, ESP32 boards get you 802.11 WiFi for like $5 these days. Zigbee is the kind of protocol designed for even simpler, more power efficient microcontrollers. Think closer to a $1 microcontroller instead. There is a reason we have lol WiFi light bulbs. The uC that powers the smarts are really cheap these days.