Linux for Samsun S3C6400 — Status

S3C6400 Status

From sandeep :

Is there any work going on S3C64**? If yes I would like to help bring it up. I have an smdk64 board with me.

please let me know

thanks, sandeep.

From Harald Welte :

Hi Sandeep,

I think the status is more or less that Samsung chose to develop the code in private, for some more or less old kernel versions, and that the don't really interoperate well with Ben Dooks on integrating their private tree with him (apart from providing him a develboard).

I have had the chance to speak with fairly senior managers inside Samsung LSI (SoC) division about this, and explained the kenrnel mainline development process, and what advantages it has to them (while I was working for OpenMoko).  They admitted to be new to the Linux world (guess they don't really know how many smaller customers use s3c stuff with linux) but didn't really seem to be interested in supporting the mainline development process by bringing their stuff in line Ben Dooks seems overworked and busy, like most people that are over their head into Linux development... and there's nobody funding his work on s3c64xx, so he probably has way too little time to make big progress here.  Help would probably really be needed.

Just my impression for the time being, Ben and others: feel free to correct me if my impression is outdated and/or wrong

[I also have a smdk6400 in my lab, but didn't have a lot of time to play with it yet.  I might be interested in helping with bits and pieces here and there, but can't commit a lot of time...]

-- - Harald Welte <laforge@xxxxxxxxxxxx>           http://laforge.gnumonks.org/

From Ben:

I am going to try and ensure that Samsung have enough feedback to try and attempt to make the process better. Their processes have improved towards the kernel (as for example in the early days we didn't even get any development boards). Now they not only provide hardware to test on, but they are also providing useful technical documentation and feedback to help the process along.  

This is not uncommon in these large enterpises. Take a look at the epic sagas with other vendors such as Cirrus.  

It is true that I have been busy recently, my employer (Simtec) who helped fund the work for the S3C2410/S3C244x as well as finding time to look at other parts of the kernel has always been my priority. As such, our own needs have driven some of the work and has taken time away from the newer SoCs to ensure that our customer's products have all the support they need.

As such, I would like to prod one or two others who've had patches sitting in their own trees that've not gotten merged yet to either get a move on, or let me know whether I can merge them. I am planning on trying to build a large set for inclusion during the 2.6.26 release of items that I've been workin on for both work and personal, as well some thirdparty offerings.

(Note, we have also done work funded by third parties, which is / will be fed back into the kernel)   -- Ben

Q:      What's a light-year?

A:      One-third less calories than a regular year.