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Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

mecha.so

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Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#41

Post by lloydatkinson »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #6

So... what's the OS situation? From a glance at https://github.com/mecha-org/linux -> https://github.com/mecha-org/linux/commits/imx/lf-6.12.20/ it looks like they're starting from a 6mo-old kernel (6.12.20 vs current LTS 6.12.67 and current stable 6.18.7). Is there any reason to expect upstreaming or even just consistent updates, or is this yet another device that will ship with an old-ish kernel and never get updat…

You’re probably right. Seems these appear every couple of years with much hype and then the business behind them conveniently goes out of business.

I learned my lesson with this niche market after CHIP: https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Exploring-the...

These clowns didn’t even tell anyone they went out of business, it took someone going to their listed address in person who found the office had been completely gutted to get ready for the next tenant.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#43

Post by Layogtima »

tcherasaro wrote: post #39
pipeline_peak wrote: post #15

So it’s a Raspberry Pi except now I can type Unix commands with my thumbs on a blackberry keyboard……ouch.

LOL exactly! That's why I want to build something like this: https://x.com/TroyCherasaro/status/2016767340457980403

Same!

My goal is to use it to control this Quad-legged walker, possibly ROS.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#46

Post by metalman »

solomonb wrote: post #4

Stumbled across this thing a while back and thought it looked really cool but I have never been able to come up with an idea for how I would use it so I haven't pledged. I want to want it but I fear it would just sit on my desk. Does anyone have cool ideas for uses?

looks like it would be great for making calls, texting, and emails, taking pictures, and looking at web sites, listening to music, and watching video, when not creating the software for a lunar lander.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#47

Post by LeonM »

backscratches wrote: post #31
yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #6

So... what's the OS situation? From a glance at https://github.com/mecha-org/linux -> https://github.com/mecha-org/linux/commits/imx/lf-6.12.20/ it looks like they're starting from a 6mo-old kernel (6.12.20 vs current LTS 6.12.67 and current stable 6.18.7). Is there any reason to expect upstreaming or even just consistent updates, or is this yet another device that will ship with an old-ish kernel and never get updat…

For what its worth the kickstarter page states: > Our software support will be officially available till 7 years, our SOC is supported till 2036. Community support could last even longer.

I'd take that claim by Mecha with a huge grain of salt.

How are they going to fund 7 years of support for a device that sells maybe a few thousand units? How are they going to guarantee they will still be around, and interested in maintaining the device drivers in 2033?

The Linux kernel project will remove the device drivers from the mainline kernel if they are no longer actively maintained and in use. So it is very likely that the support will be dropped from the mainline kernel way before 2033, as there probably won't be any users of this device remaining, and the original developers long gone.

Call me negative, but I expect that this company wil just vanish after some time. The team will just move on, maybe even start again under a different name, but there will be nobody to be held responsible for promises and claims they made in the past.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#49

Post by shoaibmerchant »

yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #6

So... what's the OS situation? From a glance at https://github.com/mecha-org/linux -> https://github.com/mecha-org/linux/commits/imx/lf-6.12.20/ it looks like they're starting from a 6mo-old kernel (6.12.20 vs current LTS 6.12.67 and current stable 6.18.7). Is there any reason to expect upstreaming or even just consistent updates, or is this yet another device that will ship with an old-ish kernel and never get updat…

Creator here, thanks for highlighting this.

We are currently following the NXP IMX downstream kernel, that is why you can check the 'imx-' prefix on our branch, their releases follow 6 months after the LTS release. NXP IMX 6.18 will release roughly by end of March, when it does you will see us updating to 6.18 as well. By the time we ship, we mostly likely will be shipping 6.18.

Now we do intend to upstream, we've even got mainline u-boot to start working with the device albeit the display. We were waiting for the hardware configuration to be stabilized before we submit the device trees and start actively working on mainline support. It won't happen overnight but you will see our documentation clearly defining how far we are from the mainline. Also to add here, compared to other SOCs, NXP already has very good mainline support.

Re: Mecha Comet – Open Modular Linux Handheld Computer

#50

Post by onli »

LeonM wrote: post #47
backscratches wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For what its worth the kickstarter page states: > Our software support will be officially available till 7 years, our SOC is supported till 2036. Community support could last even longer.

I'd take that claim by Mecha with a huge grain of salt. How are they going to fund 7 years of support for a device that sells maybe a few thousand units? How are they going to guarantee they will still be around, and interested in maintaining the device drivers in 2033? The Linux kernel project will remove the device drivers from the mainline kernel if they are no longer actively maintained and in use. So it is very…

2033 is not that far away. If they sell a few thousand items there would still be users, so the kernel would usually not remove the drivers if not defunct.

You might very well be right about the company, it is the likely outcome after all for all companies. But if the kernel support is seeded properly there should be a bit more time than predicted even then.

Also, positively: They did the communication on the website really well (I stumbled over the comet before), extended it nicely and the kickstarter campaign seems to be a big success. They have a good chance to stick around.

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