The document discusses the challenges faced by developers in building Linux-based mobile distributions. It notes the lack of widespread adoption of Linux phones over recent years. It then lists several past and present mobile Linux projects. Key upstream challenges mentioned are determining the latest software releases and licenses, obtaining reference hardware, resolving package management differences, and setting up cross-compilation and virtual hosting environments. The presentation raises questions around the future direction of mobile Linux development.

1. Mobile Distributions and
Upstream Challenges
FOSDEM 2010

2. Hi, I’m Andrew.
asavory@apache.org
twitter.com/savs

3. (All views are my own)

4. Raise your hand if you have
a linux-based mobile phone

5. Raise your hand if you have
a linux-based mobile phone
Raise your hand if you had a
linux-based mobile phone
in February 2009

6. Raise your hand if you have
a linux-based mobile phone
Raise your hand if you had a
linux-based mobile phone
in February 2009
2008 ...

7. Raise your hand if you have
a linux-based mobile phone
Raise your hand if you had a
linux-based mobile phone
in February 2009
2008 ...
2007 ...

8. Raise your hand if you have
a linux-based mobile phone
Raise your hand if you had a
linux-based mobile phone
in February 2009
2008 ...
2007 ...
2006 ...

11. Embdebian
Maemo
Moblin
Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Android
ChromeOS
LiMo
OpenMoko

12. Building a mobile distro

15. Upstream challenges
Where is the latest release?
Where is the source?
What is the license?

16. Reference hardware
Chicken and egg: hardware not available until the
software platform is built. Software platform not built
until the hardware is available ...
How to get the hardware to the right people?
Availability of base boards e.g. BeagleBoard

17. Package management
.deb vs. .rpm vs. .tar.gz vs. ....

18. Cross compilation + hosting
Scratchbox
QEMU, Xen, KVM, Virtualbox

19. Where to from here?