Ångström distribution

The Ångström distribution is a defunct Linux distribution for a variety of embedded devices. The distribution is the result of work by developers from the OpenZaurus, OpenEmbedded, and OpenSIMpad projects. The graphical user interfaces (GUIs) available are OPIE and GPE among other options.

Ångström

OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Unmaintained
Source model	Open source
Latest release	2017.12 / December 30, 2017; 5 years ago (2017-12-30)^[1]
Package manager	opkg
Platforms	ARM
Kernel type	Monolithic kernel
Default user interface	Console, X Window System, GPE, OPIE
License	Free software licenses (mainly GPL)
Official website

The Ångström distribution is in "competition" with Poky Linux^[2] which is now part of the Yocto Project. Ångström is based on the OpenEmbedded project, specifically the OpenEmbedded-Core (OE-Core) layer. While both Ångström and Poky Linux are based on OE-Core, mostly utilize the same toolchain and are both officially "Yocto compatible", only Poky Linux is officially part of the Yocto Project.

Ångström primarily differs from Poky Linux in being a binary distribution (like e.g. the Debian, Fedora, OpenSuse or Ubuntu Linux distributions), using opkg for package management. Hence an essential part of Ångström builds is a binary package feed, allowing to simply install software distributed as opkg packages, without having to compile them first (just as one might install a binary package with aptitude or dpkg).

Target platforms

According to the Ångström wiki,^[3] Ångström is being developed for at least the following devices:

• Sharp Zaurus:
  • SL-5500 (Collie)
  • SL-5600 (Poodle)
  • SL-6000 (Tosa)
  • SL-C7x0 (Corgi, Husky, Shepherd)
  • SL-C860 (Boxer)
  • SL-C1000 (Akita)
  • SL-C3xxx (Spitz, Borzoi, Terrier)
• Hewlett Packard iPAQ PDA
  • h2200
  • h4000
  • hx4700
  • h5000
• Nokia 770 Internet Tablet
• HTC Universal/iMate JasJar
• Motorola A780
• Psion Teklogix NetBook Pro
• Gumstix and Kouchuk-Bars
• Hawkboard
• BeagleBoard
• BeagleBone and BeagleBone Black
• PandaBoard
• OpenPandora
• OMAPEVM
• Base for Openmoko distribution
• Archos:
  • Archos 5
  • Archos 7^[4]
  • Archos 5 Internet Tablet
  • Archos 101
  • Archos 32
  • Archos 28
• Minnowboard
• Polyvision Roomwizard
• piA-AM335x^[5]
• 96Boards
  • Chameleon96

See also

•  Free and open-source software portal

• Familiar Linux
• Openmoko
• OpenPandora
• OpenZaurus
• WebOS
• Pocket PC
• Windows Mobile

References

1. "Download directrory for Ångström releases".
2. "OpenedHand releases Poky Linux 3.0 with Sato". 3 August 2007.
3. . Archived from the original on 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
4. "ARCHOS OPENS UP HARDWARE PLATFORM TO DEVELOPERS" (PDF). 14 June 2023.
5. "piA-AM335x-PM - Professionelle Elektronikentwicklung - pironex GmbH".

External links

• Ångström Manual 2016-08-04 at the Wayback Machine