[Openembedded-architecture] RFC: Non-Linux BSPs and/or non-standard architectures

[Denys Dmytriyenko]

On Fri, May 12, 2017 at 09:48:33AM +0100, Paul Barker wrote:
> On Thu, May 11, 2017 at 10:18 PM, Denys Dmytriyenko <denis at denix.org> wrote:
> > All,
> >
> > Somewhat related to the other Yocto Project Compliance 2.0 discussion, I
> > have a question about supporting non-Linux BSPs or BSPs with both Linux and
> > non-Linux targets. I've noticed there's some support for "baremetal" builds.
> > What about non-standard architectures? Will that affect Compliance factors in
> > any way?
> >
> > Just to provide some specific examples - I'm trying to determine feasibility
> > and validity of adding meta-ti support for RTOS OS on TI existing platforms,
> > as well as adding C6x-architecture DSP-based platforms to meta-ti that can
> > only do RTOS. Unfortunately, support for C6x architecture is not proper, as
> > from OE perspective it's not a new architecture, but instead just a hacked up
> > ARM one, that uses own toolchain, kernel and so on. Yes, it's not clean, but
> > it is what it is at this point... I don't expect these new platforms to affect
> > regular Linux builds or conflict with other BSPs. But still, wanted to run it
> > by the community for any comments. Thanks.
> >
> 
> As someone who's worked with Keystone II processors and released two
> entirely separate BSPs for a single board (OpenEmbedded-based for ARM,
> custom for C6x), it'd be great to combine all of this into one
> OpenEmbedded BSP!

Thanks Paul, that's an interesting comment. We've had Keystone II supported in 
meta-ti for long time, including mixed mode with Linux on ARM and RTOS on C6x. 
We've also had internal support for RTOS-only builds and C6x-only platforms, 
like Keystone I, based on meta-ti - that is what we are now trying to make 
public and merge into meta-ti. Hopefully this would help with custom boards 
and simplify customer products in the future!


> I can also see a benefit for mixed IoT deployments
> (for example, deployments with Linux for the IoT gateway/router and
> microcontrollers running an RTOS for the individual devices).
> 
> If you need any help making this happen then let me know.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -- 
> Paul Barker
> Co-Founder & Principal Engineer
> Togán Labs Ltd
>