Customer Reviews

Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am an experienced embedded developer that just inherited an embedded Linux-based project already in progress. As there happens to be no one else at my company with any embedded Linux experience, I automatically became the de-facto Linux expert and I needed to come up to speed on a lot of topics very quickly. I found this book to be an excellent survey of the must-know topics for the embedded Linux developer. It also contains many references to the most definitive sources of information on the various topics. Highly recommended for coming up to speed on embedded Linux.

Hallinan's book presents a balanced tour of the basic knowledge
required for an embedded Linux design effort. The subject is
exceedingly large and the author wisely chooses to focus on essentials
such as tools, debugging, and architecture. There is less emphasis on
quickly dated material such as source code tours and build
instructions as is found in other texts. This book will add to your
knowledge... not just your script library.

Two attributes of this text are notable: a) This is the only text on
the market with an overview of the latest CONFIG_RT technology found
in the Linux kernel. CONFIG_RT is a new way of reaching real time
performance requirements that does not depend on sub-kernels or
interrupt abstraction. b) The author remains true to making this a
"primer". This is an ideal book to start with and lay the foundation
for future learning

This book, the CALAO SYSTEM USB-A9260 card, an eeePC and a cross over cable is all that you need to study embedded system everywhere (even along the Seine river in Paris - yes I did it !).
The chapters about the U-BOOT bootloader, the BUSYBOX embeded Linux and an extra piece of information on the JFFS2 file system are welcome. If the cross-development environment chapter had been about BUILDROOT, this book would have been THE BOOK for the present embedded Linux based systems designers.

I am an embedded developer and a linux user/programmer/admin.
When I started joining the "embedded"+"linux" words (and worlds), I found out that I had a lot to learn from this book in both fields.
It's the best on the subject I've read up to now, really professional. The "Primer" in the title does not mean that it's for beginners: it's an advanced guide, and you need to have a background in both "Linux" and "Embedded".
I bought and read it some years ago, but sometimes I like to re-read some parts because I find it always useful and enjoyable.

Moreover, it's well written, fun and easy to read.
There are also a lot of useful references for further readings (I followed many of them!) and web documentations.

For those engineers who start their first embedded Linux project, this book is a must have. The book is not for those who want to understand how kernel runs but it gives you the most important concept and work flow to bring up the OS on your development board. The author also provides a useful further reading list in case you want to dig more. A very practical and clearly written book and I would recommend it to those who have solid experience in embedded development but just start to explore in Linux.

This book is excellent to construct embedded software using Linux. This book explain all the process involved in embedded devices (toolchain, bsp, bootloader, cross-compilation, etc). This book is not inteded as entry book, you must have experience with Linux, C, compilers, etc. There are plenty lines of code an examples therefore is a practical book but you need to work on it

This book is a professional one, therefore this book can carry you to get real embedded linux appliances.

Jorge Luis

I am just a newbie to the embedded linux world. Of all the books I have seen this book was the best overview but not a great reference book. It is well organized so that someone new to embedded linux will not get overwhelmed but it is also a good overall reference. It goes over all of the different bootloaders, target devices, file systems, busybox, etc. I would NOT recommend it to a reader without some background with linux. The whole embedded linux development moves very quickly so there may be need for new edition soon. It is a must buy if you are interested in learning embedded linux. If you are past the learning phase then it may be less useful.

This is a great book if you are interested to get a good review of how linux works.
It also gives brief but good review of embedded hardware and main processors on the market.
Explanations are going into details but structured very clearly.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a great book. This was one of the text books I had for a course at UCI in their embedded linux course. It provides a great overview to building an embedded linux system. I myself am not a C programmer or really heavy into Linux so my own embedded linux experiences have taken a slightly different turn. I've found development in this area can be extremely demanding and not for the faint of heart. My self and a friend developed an Off Site Backup Appliance a while back using an off the shelf Linux Distribution and familiar x86 Hardware using the Intel Atom. We managed to get the OS setup on a small flashrom and rather than the normal C approach which most texts and engineers take we used Ruby on Rails which is a modern object oriented language which was much simpler to work with coming from a background where we develop desktop and web apps in .net it was an easier transition. I've thought about making it into a kit or book as an example for other folks to spring board from who have a great idea but, maybe not the inclination to completely dive into the embedded world. Send me a comment if anyone could use such an item.

This book is an excellent primer on the Linux Embedded system development and applications support.

Mr Hallinan goes over all the important topics for Linux embedded applications support and development.

A great tutorial for system developers or technical support staff involved with Embedded Linux.