µCross is a modern
Linux based software-distribution for
embedded and
mobile devices. The µCross package is a product from kernel concepts and can be licensed for various platforms. Supported platforms include
ARM,
MIPS and
PowerPC.
µCross is a complete package to enable rapid project development. It contains a broad choice of pre-compiled packages that suite almost any requirement and is complemented by a matching cross development toolchain and SDK. A distinguishing feature of µCross is the support for graphical user interface (GUI) development using e.g. GTK+ or Qt - QT/embedded being supported as well. With tools known from desktop Linux like IDEs, user interface builders and debugging tools an experienced GUI developer can start to develop embedded GUI application within the shortest possible time.
Features
µCross is based on a set of well tuned and tailored components which form a complete and stable solution:
- Cross toolchain (GCC)
- SDK including GUI development, GTK+, Qt, Qt/embedded and DirectFB
- Root filesystem with package management
- Package-feeds – the source for the pre-compiled binary packges which are used to build the root filesystem. Feeds can also be used as a source for post-deploy installations, more than 6000 packages available
- Updates – a regular release schedule with new releases every six months
- Broad support offerings
Technical Specifications
µCross can be seen as the glue-layer between the BSP and the customers specific application:
µCross compliments the BSP that usually comes with the hardware board - either from the board or chipset manufatcurer. Only the hardware specific parts of the BSP are needed, i.e. bootloader, kernel and eventually specific drivers. Everything else is supplied by µCross.
Supported Acrchitectures
Currently µCross supports the following architectures:
- ARM V4T
- ARM V5TE
- ARM V7A
- MIPS32
- PowerPC
- x86
Components
- µCross toolchain
- C and C++ cross-compiler
- assembler
- linker
- µCross SDK = toolchain plus
- GTK+, GLIB
- Qt (X11)
- Qt/embedded
- DirectFB
- µCross runtime
- All necessary components needed to run applications developed using the µCross SDK
- µCross Target Image Builder (µTIB)
- A specialised tool to create binary runtime images, like flashable images that can directly be programmed in chip flash memory (NAND or NOR)
Binary Packages
µCross is completely package oriented, based on the specially for embedded and mobile use tailored tool "opkg". All components of µCross are installed package by package into the target system. This enables package oriented updates also in the field after the product has been deployed - instead of having to rewrite the whole filesystem image.
The feeds currently contain more than 6000 packages for each architecture supported by µCross.