[maemo-developers] [maemo-developers] Info on FIASCO components/hackers' guide to the N770

[From: Devesh Kothari]

ext Dave Neuer wrote:

>Hi all, and thank you Nokia for finally getting my lovely new 770 to me.
>
>I'm still in the process of familiarizing myself w/ the device and the
>Maemo/N770 environment. Let me first complement all of the people who
>have made this impressive little device so usable and compelling
>already. Great job.
>
>One of the first things I generally do when I get a new Linux-capable
>device is remove all proprietary software, and replace it with Free
>Software or Open Source alternatives if possible (or otherwise do
>without).
>
>I'm still running the stock image on the 770, but I've been
>investigating over the last week what it would take to rip out all of
>the proprietary stuff, and how much customization of the device is
>possible.
>
>  
>
developer rootfs is the place to start, as it contains no propreitary
applications. It do require a binary blob under nokia license,
containing device specific and closed software from nokia.

>One thing I've noticed is there seems to be lack of a comprehensive
>set of documentation for the device at the "how it all works" level,
>from "processor beings executing code at location 0xNNNNNNNN" to "this
>is how you assemble a FIASCO image."
>
>  
>
flasher is capable of flashing independently the kernel, initfs, rootfs.
So its not necessary to have a FIASCO file.

>I can kind of understand why this information might not be available.
>Nokia no doubt wants us to concentrate on developing useful end-user
>applications which enhance rather than replace the existing
>functionality and environment.
>
>However, given the existence of the information at [1] and [2], it
>seems that the djinn is already half out of the bottle. For instance,
>I've already been able, using the resources cited above on the
>maemo.org website, to unpack a FIASCO image and determine that the
>initfs and rootfs are JFFS2 images, and that the remaining components
>aren't. So, I was wondering if it would be possible to have such a
>"Hacker's Guide to the N770 and Maemo." Something which describes the
>function of the various FIASCO components and the recipe for creating
>a valid custom FIASCO image (obviously certain components couldn't be
>replaced).
>
>I'm most interested in creating my own kernel, initfs and rootfs
>images and sewing them back together, and flashing them to the device
>without breaking anything.
>
>  
>
with resources available on maemo.org, you should be able to compile
your own kernel and rootfs. There are issues with initfs [so that piece
is not possible, as it contains some software like wlan drivers etc,
which are closed]

look at
http://maemo.org/platform/docs/howtos/howto_use_flasher_rootfs.html


Br,
Devesh

>I'd love to know what Nokia's position is on this as well as what
>other developers here think about it.
>
>Also, is flasher a supported way to upgrade to the latest system image
>from Nokia's support site?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Dave
>
>[1] http://maemo.org/maemowiki/HowDoiBecomeRoot (section entitled "The Hard Way"
>[2] http://maemo.org/maemowiki/Flasher_tool_usage
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>  
>