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Kernel Space: DeviceTree and Full Linux on an ESP32
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Hackaday ☛ DeviceTree For Hackers: Intro
There are DeviceTree files powering technology all around you. Your phone has one, so does your router, your ARM laptop, and not even to speak of your SBCs. Some DeviceTree files are evil, being merely a thin layer between the Linux kernel and proprietary drivers; you will find these in phones with CPUs made by evil corporations. Most DeviceTree files are simply there to do their job.
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Hackster ☛ Full Linux on an ESP32? It's Official
Espressif's ESP32 microcontrollers are a favorite among makers and developers thanks to their low cost, excellent performance, and built-in wireless connectivity. They're great for everything from basic IoT sensors to sophisticated robotics projects, but they aren't the kind of hardware you'd expect to find running a full operating system. That could be changing, however, as the new ESP32-S31 is powerful enough to run Linux, and unlike with past hacks, Espressif is officially supporting the effort.
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Adafruit ☛ Proper Linux, on an ESP32
Harry Fairhead, writing at I Programmer, covers Espressif’s official Linux fork for the ESP32-S31. The S31 is a dual-core RISC-V chip running at 320MHz, and it has the memory management a real operating system needs: a two-level page table with address translation, plus privilege levels that keep the kernel separate from user space.
There are limitations. Memory is tight, and there’s no GPU, so a desktop GUI or large AI work is out. The chip does have Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth and Zigbee, along with GPIO, SPI, I2C, camera and I2S audio.