Open Source consoles

Anikom15 · 2009-08-07 18:56:39

I've heard of Uzebox:
http://belogic.com/uzebox/

And was wondering if it was any good. I'd be interested in it after learning C, so I's wondering if anyone's had any experience with these types of things.

djszapi · 2009-08-07 23:56:13

Hello Anikom15!

I'm an asm/C programmer too, what's your problem with it? Generally Archlinux supports well the embedded development, or if not we will search a solution for it

Anikom15 · 2009-08-08 01:10:40

I don't have a problem, I'm just wondering if it's any good.

winch · 2009-08-08 01:11:26

The problem with things like the uzebox is your PC can do a similar thing and is massively more powerful. Cross compiling also has it's own set of issues. Like waiting for compiled code to be sent to the device when you want to test changes and debugging a device that has limited connectivity to your PC.

That's not to say it is all negatives. The uzebox only has 4Kb or ram compared to the 2,097,152Kb my desktop has. Programming for such a limited system will provide challenges you won't encounter very often programming a PC. Plus the hardware is much simpler and there isn't an OS stopping you from touching it directly.

I've never used or seen an uzebox myself. I'd take a look at some existing software and the source code to see what it is capable of and how complex it is to accomplish. My worry would be that it is a bit underpowered so the games will either be really simple or the code will be really complex. Perhaps more for the demoscene coder that wants to master the hardware than someone who just wants to knock up a tetris clone over the weekend. There is also an uzebox simulator you could try before spending money on the hardware.

Last edited by winch (2009-08-08 01:19:08)

Anikom15 · 2009-08-08 03:42:29

The games written for it look like NES/SNES. I'll try out the emulator, but first I'll learn C.

Dieter@be · 2009-08-08 07:13:46

http://openpandora.org/index.php

pauldonnelly · 2009-08-08 21:26:46

Dieter@be wrote:

http://openpandora.org/index.php

Pandora strikes me as a better bet. Portable, and likely a bigger community.

skottish · 2009-08-09 05:47:52

It looks like Pandora uses the Intel Poulsbo graphics chip. There are no official drivers for it, the 2D drivers are for a older kernel and are reported to be a mess (search Linux Poulsbo for links), and the 3D drivers are non-free, closed source. It's not-so-good for Arch unless uvesafb is good enough.

Arch Linux

#1 2009-08-07 18:56:39

Open Source consoles

#2 2009-08-07 23:56:13

Re: Open Source consoles

#3 2009-08-08 01:10:40

Re: Open Source consoles

#4 2009-08-08 01:11:26

Re: Open Source consoles

#5 2009-08-08 03:42:29

Re: Open Source consoles

#6 2009-08-08 07:13:46

Re: Open Source consoles

#7 2009-08-08 21:26:46

Re: Open Source consoles

#8 2009-08-09 05:47:52

Re: Open Source consoles

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