Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach (2nd Edition) [Hardcover]

Christopher Hallinan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0137017839 | ISBN-13: 978-0137017836 | Edition: 2

Up-to-the-Minute, Complete Guidance for Developing Embedded Solutions with Linux

 

Linux has emerged as today’s #1 operating system for embedded products. Christopher Hallinan’s Embedded Linux Primer has proven itself as the definitive real-world guide to building efficient, high-value, embedded systems with Linux. Now, Hallinan has thoroughly updated this highly praised book for the newest Linux kernels, capabilities, tools, and hardware support, including advanced multicore processors.

 

Drawing on more than a decade of embedded Linux experience, Hallinan helps you rapidly climb the learning curve, whether you’re moving from legacy environments or you’re new to embedded programming. Hallinan addresses today’s most important development challenges and demonstrates how to solve the problems you’re most likely to encounter.

You’ll learn how to build a modern, efficient embedded Linux development environment, and then utilize it as productively as possible. Hallinan offers up-to-date guidance on everything from kernel configuration and initialization to bootloaders, device drivers to file systems, and BusyBox utilities to real-time configuration and system analysis. This edition adds entirely new chapters on UDEV, USB, and open source build systems.

 

• Tour the typical embedded system and development environment and understand its concepts and components.
• Understand the Linux kernel and userspace initialization processes.
• Preview bootloaders, with specific emphasis on U-Boot.
• Configure the Memory Technology Devices (MTD) subsystem to interface with flash (and other) memory devices.
• Make the most of BusyBox and latest open source development tools.
• Learn from expanded and updated coverage of kernel debugging.
• Build and analyze real-time systems with Linux.
• Learn to configure device files and driver loading with UDEV.
• Walk through detailed coverage of the USB subsystem.
• Introduces the latest open source embedded Linux build systems.
• Reference appendices include U-Boot and BusyBox commands.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Hallinan is a technical marketing engineer for the Embedded Systems Division of Mentor Graphics, living and working in Florida. He has spent more than 25 years in the networking and communications industry, mostly in various product development, management, and marketing roles, where he developed a strong background in the space where hardware meets software. Prior to joining Mentor Graphics, he spent nearly seven years as a field applications engineer for Monta Vista Software. Before that, Hallinan spent four years as an independent Linux consultant, providing custom Linux board ports, device drivers, and bootloaders. His introduction to the open source community was through contributions to the popular U-Boot bootloader. When not messing about with Linux, he is often found singing and playing a Taylor or Martin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (November 5, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0137017839
• ISBN-13: 978-0137017836
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 1.6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Computers & Technology > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > Embedded Systems
  • #24 in Books > Computers & Technology > Operating Systems > Linux > Programming

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just plain excellent February 13, 2011

By Jerry Saperstein HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In my work, I not infrequently have to familiarize myself with different technologies. I generally don't have a lot of time to do this.

Books like "Embedded Linux Primer" are my salvation. The author states in his preface "This book describes my view of what an embedded engineer needs to know to get up to speed fast in an embedded Linux environment". I am not an engineer, but I am a technologist and this book got me off to a flying start in terms of letting me quickly expand my knowledge of embedded Linux.

This book will not teach you how to use Linux or how to program in C and you'd best have some experience in both to even read the book.

It is not a hardware book either or a book on the Linux kernel.

It is what its title states, a primer on embedded Linux systems and how to get them up and running.

In 19 chapters, author Hallinan walks the reader through initial discussions of why to choose embedded Linux and quickly moves into the anatomy of an embedded Linux system. Hallinan's writing style is wonderfully clear and he rarely deviates from the subject at hand. There are lots of tips in the text covering the idiosyncrasies of working with an embedded system, which I found particularly helpful.

Each of the chapters is a lesson. At the end of each, there are suggestions for additional reading.

In my case, I just needed a coherent overview of embedded Linux. I got that quickly and easily thanks to Hallinan's style. Now that my initial purpose has been accomplished, I can do as Hallinan suggests: take out an old x86 system and follow along as he explains how to get an embedded Linux system up and running. Hallinan makes it a fun task.

Jerry

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Just A PRIMER - That's all January 1, 2012

By Daniel E. Hobson

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Like Ghost said. Not a serious how to book. It explains a little theory. Enough to see the buzz words. But not enough to really learn how to implement.

The explanation of the boot process was good. The short walk through on the kernel source code was a good primer. Could not find how to burn new files into Flash though.

Most of the books strong points were showing the reader where to go on line to find the answers. But some of the links to the web no longer exist. I guess this is a problem writing a book on a fast moving technology. It would have been better to go ahead and include the info in the book.

I would also recommend rearranging the chapters to where the Tool-Chain is covered first in an attempt to get the reader up and running so the rest of the book can be applied as the material is read. Thanks for the effort.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference appendixes and configuration tips contribute to a real winner! February 16, 2011

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Hardcover

The second updated edition of Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach provides the latest keys to developing embedded solutions using Linux. Newcomers to embedded programming concepts as well as those seeking reinforcement of systems and Linux operations will find this teaches all the basics, includes expanded, updated coverage on kernel debugging, and introduces the latest open source embedded Linux systems. Reference appendixes and configuration tips contribute to a real winner!