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Learning BeagleBone
Learning BeagleBone

Learning BeagleBone: Learn how to love and care for your BeagleBone and teach it tricks

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Learning BeagleBone

Chapter 2. Software in the BeagleBone

Now that you have unboxed your BeagleBone and have the basic accessories to connect to another machine, we'll look at the software in the BeagleBone. First, we'll look at the available distributions for the BeagleBone and then go over how to get these distributions onto the BeagleBone. To install a distribution, you need an SD card reader as mentioned in the previous chapter. Finally, we'll look at how to get your own software in the BeagleBone.

Note

A Linux distribution (often known as distro) is a collection of software composed of the Linux kernel and support pieces that provides a user interface.

If you have a new BeagleBone board and the accessories have not arrived but you are just anxious to get started, you can skip this chapter and move on to the next. Come back to this chapter when you need to change the software, either to try something different or for recovery purposes.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics...

System software in the BeagleBone

This book will focus solely on running a Linux-based software in the BeagleBone. It is possible to run almost any ARM-based software in the BeagleBone but this is outside the scope of the book.

Note

The examples of a few other distributions can be found at http://beagleboard.org/projects. This is not an exhaustive list.

The Linux-based system software comes in different flavors, commonly referred to as distribution. Linux by itself strictly refers to a core piece known as the kernel. A distribution takes the Linux kernel, configures things in a specific way, and then adds other system software pieces.

Note

Linux provides protection between different pieces of software to increase the overall system's robustness. This is done by having a supervisor or a privileged portion and an underprivileged portion. The privileged portion resides mostly in the kernel. The unprivileged portion is typically referred to as userland pieces. Userland pieces are, by default...

Distributions on the BeagleBone

The BeagleBone can run many different distributions similar to those available for desktops and laptops. However, the BeagleBone is shipped with two specific distributions, namely, Angström and Debian. Both the flavors are available in an easy-to-load format specifically for the BeagleBone.

The Angström Linux distribution

Angström has supported every Beagle board available since the beginning. The BeagleBone White is shipped with a microSD card that contains Angström. Early revisions of the BeagleBone Black were shipped pre-installed with the Angström. A quick overview of Angström (http://www.angstrom-distribution.org/) is as follows:

  • Angström is built with OpenEmbedded and provides a lot of configuration flexibility
  • Angström is more commonly used with embedded devices and is a little bit different from what people might be used to on the desktop/laptop
  • The entire image can be locally built to give you an image with all...

Installing a distribution in the BeagleBone

The process of installing a distribution in the BeagleBone differs between the White and Black versions. The BBW does not have a built-in flash memory, unlike the BBB. The process of installing a distribution on the BBW is a matter of writing the image onto the microSD card and booting from it. In contrast, the BBB has an onboard memory to which you can copy the files. However, the BBB also offers a microSD slot. This provides the BBB user with an option to test out a distribution using the microSD card while keeping the stock image intact, similar to how a BBW is set up.

Before beginning, make sure that the following items are available:

  • A blank microSD card at least 1 GB or bigger. The size needed depends on the image; internal flash on a BBB is 2 GB on older revisions and 4 GB on newer revisions. The card does not need to be blank but the contents will be erased in the process, so make sure that there is nothing on the card that you want to keep...

Nonsystem software in the BeagleBone

After the BeagleBone boots the kernel and allows you to log in, the system is ready to run the nonsystem software. This software runs in an unprivileged level, so bugs here are unlikely to crash the entire system. This software is typically what makes the BeagleBone specific to a task. Later on in this book, we will write this type of software as an exercise to familiarize ourselves with the BeagleBone. The line between the system software and nonsystem software can be unclear as most distribution includes a vast library of applications, either installed or easily installable with a few commands. The exact process depends on the distribution. For Angström users, this is done using the opkg command. For Debian users, this is done either by apt-get or dpkg just like on a desktop machine.

For a lot of BeagleBone users, the software library offered by distributions is commonly just a foundation to build upon. Depending on the intended task, additional...

Summary

In this chapter, we looked at the two common system software distributions for the BeagleBone. We also went through the basics of downloading and running a distribution. For the BBB, this process allows a BBB in an unknown state to be restored to a factory condition. Finally, we looked at an overview of installation applications in the BeagleBone.

The upcoming chapters will be much more hands on as we apply the foundation built here and go through the process of building your first project on the BeagleBone. We will build a variation of the classic first project for embedded users, an LED flasher. While you might not have chosen to install a new distribution at this time, this process can be applied to recover from most software mistakes.

The LED flasher project will be broken into two parts. In Chapter 3, Building an LED Flasher, we will ease into controlling the LED and end with a basic flasher. This basic flasher will be the foundation for the advanced exercises.

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Description

This book is for new BeagleBone owners who are looking to quickly get their microboard up and running. It would be helpful to have an understanding of embedded concepts or Linux but neither is essential.

What you will learn

  • Unbox, power up, and configure the BeagleBone with Linux
  • Hook up and interface the BeagleBone to a desktop
  • Develop software to interact with the outside world
  • Build and control LED flash patterns
  • Run Linuxbased software on the BeagleBone
  • Get familiar with entire boot procedures from power on to running your own software
  • Expansion with your own cape/expansion board
  • Expand the BeagleBone for Bluetooth connectivity
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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Dec 24, 2014
Length: 206 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783982905
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Length: 206 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783982905
Vendor :
BeagleBoard.org
Category :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

12 Chapters
1. Introducing the Beagle Boards Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Software in the BeagleBone Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Building an LED Flasher Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Refining the LED Flasher Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Connecting the BeagleBone to Mobile Devices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Recovering from the Mistakes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Interfacing with the BeagleBone Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Advanced Software Topics Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Expansion Boards and Options Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A. The Boot Process Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
B. Terms and Definitions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3
(4 Ratings)
5 star 50%
4 star 25%
3 star 25%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
Emmanuel Waegebaert Mar 23, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Excellent for all those who have a beaglebone. Ready to use examples, easy to understand and follow the logic. A must for your first steps into the world of programming the Beaglebone.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Krunal Jhaveri Apr 06, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I have worked on Beagle boards in labs, and got a nice introduction via this book to integrate it with over on going projects at work. I recommend this book for anyone who needs an excellent introduction on beagle board. I wish there were some video tutorials available too.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Frank Agius Mar 31, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
I've worked with Beagle boards and BeagleBones for a number of years. I found that "Learning BeagleBone" provided a good introduction to the board, with some details and history that was new to me. There are good examples with a clear walk through of exercises. Some areas could use a little more detail. For example, the section on SPI is only a terse paragraph. Overall I would recommend the book, especially for those who are new to the BeagleBone and embedded systems.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Providential Jul 13, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 3
This is an odd book, and you should know what you're getting in to.Cons (yes these are before the pros):-This entire book has one actual project in it. To be fair the one project is a neat one, starting with the basics of what the BeagleBone is and going all the way up to using a web page on your computer to control flashing LEDs on your board. But honestly you could jam all that project work into a three-page pamphlet.-Who is the audience? The book waffles between a bare-bones beginner approach (appropriate for a child who's barely used a computer before), and a long-time computer pro approach (whole chapters are just long diatribes on technical errata that a general audience can't wade through). Pick an audience, and stick with it.-Most chapters are purely theoretical, with no immediate application. The chapter on connecting to BeagleBone with your mobile device basically boils down to, "this is beyond the scope of this book". There's a lot of good information in there, but zero that a beginner can use, and no beginner can possibly wade through all the arcane technical bits without some practical applications.Pros:-Covers Both BBB (black) and BBW (white).-All examples and code given are correct, and are given appropriate troubleshooting so that someone with a basic familiarity of code debugging can get the examples running.-Lots of advanced information. The aforementioned section on connecting a mobile device to your BeagleBone covers TCP/IP, and cellular networks, and security, and lots more. Good information- but zero application.Really this book is for a computer professional who has a project in mind but needs a quick introduction before continuing. This book will prep you on safety concerns, voltages, what capes are and what they do, and why you're probably going to want a boilerplate solution for connecting your board to your Android device rather than attempting it from scratch. That's where this book shines. It is not for beginners, and it is not for people who are already familiar with the BeagleBone who are looking for some new project ideas. It doesn't have any.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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