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	== Sharp Compatibility ==		== Sharp Compatibility ==
-	* librariers are available to support applications build for the Sharp ROM on other ROMs.	+	* libraries are available to support applications build for the Sharp ROM on other ROMs.

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Revision as of 00:52, 31 October 2007

Overview of available software distributions from a user's point of view:

This article is aimed at explaining the different distributions in detail. Users new to the Zaurus community should take a look at Introduction to Alternative ROMs.

Contents 1 Terminology 2 Software compatibility 3 Hardware compatibility 4 Common distributions 4.1 Sharp retail ROM 4.2 Crow 4.3 Cacko 4.4 tkcrom 4.5 pdaXrom 4.5.1 pdaXrom current (r121 and later) 4.5.2 pdaXrom beta1/beta3 4.5.3 pdaXii13 4.5.4 pdaXiiNG 4.6 OpenZaurus 4.6.1 OZ/Bootstrap 4.6.2 OZ/OPIE 4.6.3 OZ/GPE 4.6.4 Ångström 4.6.5 Hentges 5 Applications 6 Get even more 6.1 X/qt 6.1.1 PocketWorkstation 6.2 Sharp Compatibility

Terminology

Any operating system consists of a kernel (Linux in our case) and a file system with user space software (applications). Both are usually stored in the Zaurus internal NAND memory while the user space part can be on a memory card or the C3x00 hard drive as well. People call the combination of a kernel and a read-only file system a ROM for historic reasons. The procedure of installing a new ROM is called flashing.

A convenient way to install additional software are feeds, these are internet sites providing binary packages. Those will be installed to a read-write partition on any form of storage available (internal NAND/HDD, CF/SD, USB key, network).

We'll call the combination of ROM and feed a distribution in this document.

Software compatibility

Zaurus is a Linux PDA after all, so we can port any open source software and mix with whatever distribution we are running, right? Maybe. However (binary) interfaces differ a lot, so don't get too excited about mix and match: it won't match. If a program you want to use is not in your distribution (neither in the ROM nor in a suitable feed) and you want to install it, there's work ahead.

The major issue here is the different kinds of GUIs used. Unless you are a software developer with some free time on your hand you probably want to choose a distribution that suits your needs. This page is to help you with that decision.

pdaXrom, OZ/GPE, debian and pocketworkstation run on top of X. This is what all Linux desktop GUIs use which makes porting software (such as from GNOME) possible but not trivial. OZ/OPIE, Sharp/Qtopia and Cacko use qt/embedded. qt is a free (partly as in speech, partly as in beer) toolkit to write GUIs for windows and X desktops, qt/embedded however differs from regular desktop qt, which again makes porting software (such as from KDE) possible but not trivial.

All the Sharp Zaurus applications are binary compatible across distros, so as long as they don't require a GUI and are command line based, they should work, however, they have different library dependencies which is where the biggest compatibility problem is. Sharp, Cacko and pdaXrom use GLIB 2.2.x whereas PocketWorkstation/Debian and OZ use GLIB 2.3.x. Applications that are not dependant on the latest GLIB features, usually can run on any Zaurus distro.

That said, the binaries may run, however, the package will not install because there are two different package formats for the IPK files as well. Sharp/Cacko and pdaXrom use an older IPK format that is in essence a tgz file containing tgz files. Debian and OZ use a newer format which the ipkg commands in the other distros cannot read and extract. There are tools around to convert between the package formats.

Hardware compatibility

If the distribution does not say it supports your Zaurus model it probably won't work. The hardware differs under the skin.

Common distributions

Sharp retail ROM

Sharp ships Zaurus initially configured with Trolltech's Qtopia. The software differs slightly from model to model. It's generally considered stable but lacks features found in other distributions.

• uses qt/embedded 1.5
• optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (PDA like environment)
• feeds with additional software are available

Crow

Cacko/Crow is a ROM for the SL-5000/5500, placing /home on an MMC or SD card.

Cacko

Cacko is an improved version of Sharp's ROM put together mainly by Anton Maslovsky. Cako means "Jewel" in Russian.

Cacko provides two ROMs, full or light, plus feed. Both offer the same applications if you take the feed into account.

• supports most clamshell models: SL-C7x0/C860/C1000/C3100
• 100% English
• uses qt/embedded 1.5 just like Sharp
• optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (PDA like environment)
• Tetsu special kernel
• Based on kernel 2.4.18, Anton back ported many updates and drivers from the later 2.4 kernel
• Many device drivers are included for hardware such as CF bluetooth & wifi, CF usb host, etc
• supports wifi networking very well, including WPA (if using a card with hostap drivers)

Cacko uses a compressed file system to store the main file system, and thus is quite space efficient; the downside is there are quite a few symbolic links in the read-write file system into the loopback-mounted cramfs file system in order to allow patching and changes.

[1]

tkcrom

An interesting modified Sharp rom. Certain apps stripped out, available as ipks. Home on SD but with a different method to the Cacko/Crow roms. Also has recently been given a modified initrd to enable SD>2GB. See this Wiki page, Available ROMs for the SL-5x00

pdaXrom

pdaXrom current (r121 and later)

• supports Zaurus SL-C7x0/7500/860, SL-6000, SL-C1000/C3100/C3200, C3000 (experimental), x86 PCs, PhyCORE-PXA270
• 100% open source, GNU GPL
• Linux 2.6.x kernel
• X windows, GTK - use openbox as default window manager but can also use other window managers like xfce, kde, etc...
• crosscompiled desktop applications, not all optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (notebook like environment)
• Many device drivers are included for hardware such as CF cards (bluetooth, wifi, usb host, modems, gps etc), SD cards, IR, and USB host/client

[2], pdaXrom

pdaXrom beta1/beta3

• supports Zaurus SL-5000D/5500, SL-C7x0/7500/860, SL-6000, SL-C1000/C3100/C3200, SL-C3000 (experimental), x86 PCs, PhyCORE-PXA270
• 100% open source, GNU GPL
• Linux 2.4.x kernel
• X windows, GTK - use openbox as default window manager but can also use other window managers like xfce, kde, etc...
• crosscompiled desktop applications, not all optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (notebook like environment)
• Many device drivers are included for hardware such as CF cards (bluetooth, wifi, usb host, modems, gps etc), SD cards, IR, and USB host/client

[3], pdaXrom

pdaXii13

• supports Zaurus SL-C3000, SL-C1000/C3100/C3200, SL-C7x0/7500/860 (in a limited fashion)
• based on pdaXrom beta1/beta3
• X windows, GTK - use openbox as default window manager and can be easily switched to fluxbox and icewe
• customised desktop applications optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (notebook like environment)
• custom keyboard mappings for both Zaurus keyboard and USB keyboard
• many bug fixes for beta1/beta3

[4], pdaXii13

pdaXiiNG

Note: these are planned specs, this doesn't actually exist yet.

• supports Zaurus SL-C3000, SL-C1000/C3100/C3200 (later)
• based on pdaXrom latest rxxx with 2.6.x kernel
• X windows, GTK - use icewm as default window manager
• customised desktop applications optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (notebook like environment)
• custom keyboard mappings for both Zaurus keyboard and USB keyboard

[5], pdaXiiNG

OpenZaurus

OpenZaurus supports all Zaurus models (except SL-A300 which is very rare device). It's the only one distribution with 2.6 kernel for some models.

Many device drivers are included for hardware such as CF cards (bluetooth, wifi, usb host, modems, gps etc). Supports wifi networking very well, including WPA (if using a card with hostap drivers and OZ 3.5.4).

Distribution comes in flavours:

[6]

OZ/Bootstrap

• 100% open source
• only console - no GUI at all

OZ/OPIE

• 100% open source replacement for qtopia
• uses qt/embedded
• optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (PDA like environment)

OZ/GPE

• 100% open source
• uses X windows, GTK
• optimized for Zaurus screen resolution (notebook/PDA like environment)

Ångström

• spelled Angstrom with °A=Å und "o=ö
• future of OpenZaurus

Hentges

• based on OpenZaurus and maintained by Matthias Hentges
• Uses the OpenZaurus feeds
• installs and preconfigures many of the most popular applications
• Hentges website

Applications

What matters to a user most is what applications are available and how good they run? This is a obviously a tough question and everyone holds an opinion about what's needed and what's good. Let's make a comparision table: (This needs work from people familiar with the distributions.)

legend
default (usually on basic ROM)	available on extended/special ROM	package available in (main) feed	package available indirectly (through X/qt or Sharp-compat or additional feed)	unsure

	Sharp	Cacko v1.23	pdaXrom	OZ/OPIE	OZ/GPE
PIM	qtopia Ko/PI	qtopia Ko/PI	Ko/PI desktop KDEPIM cal v3.5 fltdj v0.7	Ko/PI (=OPIE)	GPE
Office	Hancom Word/Sheet vim microemacs, zedit, yedit, qpdf2	Hancom Word/Sheet vim microemacs, zedit, yedit, qpdf2	SciTE 1.62, gnumeric v1.6 abiword v2.4 justreader v2.0J nedit v5.4 vim v6.4 siag v3.6.0 xpdf v2.03	OPIE-Textedit, OPIE-Write qpdf 2 justreader v2.0K vim v6.4, micro-emacs Hancom Word/Sheet, Abiword 2.4.4	abiword 2.4.4 gnumeric v1.6.2 vim v6.4 gpdf 2.10.0
web	netfront v3.1, Opera v7.25 apache/php/mysql	netfront v3.1, Opera v7.25 apache/php/mysql	dillo v0.8.5 Firefox v1.5, Minimo v1.7, Mozilla v1.7 apache/php/mysql	Konquerer apache/php/mysql Dillo, Firefox, Minimo	gpe-mini-browser Dillo, Firefox, Minimo apache/php/mysql
Email	qtopia Kopie/Mail, mutt msmtp	qtopia Kopie/Mail, mutt msmtp	sylpheed v2.0 thunderbird v1.0.7 msmtp, mutt	OPIE-Mail sylpheed v2.0 thunderbird v1.0.7 mutt	sylpheed v2.0 thunderbird v1.0.7 mutt
IM, chat, VoIP	GAIM KPhone/PI bitchx v1.1-final	GAIM KPhone/PI bitchx v1.1-final	gaim v2.0 xchat bitchx v1.1-final	KPhone/PI, OpieIRC GAIM
network tools	gnupg, rsync, tar wellenreiterII, kismet, aircrack v2.1-1 Access Point SNMP Utils for Linux qtrdesktop, smbclient	gnupg, rsync, tar wellenreiterII, kismet, aircrack v2.1-1 Access Point SNMP Utils for Linux qtrdesktop, smbclient	gnupg v1.2.4, rsync, tar kismet v2.6.0, wellenreiterII, wifi-radar openssh v3.7.1p2, vpn rdesktop v1.3.1, smbclient x11vnc, tightvnc	WellenreiterII, OpieStumbler, Opie-rdesktop, Dropbear wpa_supplicant gnupg kismet (console) openssh	wpa_supplicant
Media	mencoder, mplayer xmms petitepeinture, GIMP	mencoder, mplayer xmms petitepeinture, GIMP	GIMP v2.3.6, tuxpaint v0.9.14 xmms v1.2.10 gqview v2.1.1 mad, mplayer v1.0pre3try2	Opie Media player, Drawpad qpPhoto Gimp	Gimp
software development	python, ruby, perl, miniscript, pocketscript cvs	python, ruby, perl, miniscript, pocketscript cvs	python v2.4.1, pygtk 2.5.3 ruby v1.8.1 tk v8.4.6 gcc v3.4.5 cvs
science, other	bc, maxima, neocal qtplot zroadmap	bc, maxima, neocal qtplot zroadmap	bc, dia, x48 bluefish, thunar gpsdrive stardict grisbi

Get even more

X/qt

• Using this X server running on top of qt/embedded you can use any X application provided it is compatible (ie. glibc compatible)
• Sharp, Cacko, Crow? and OZ/OPIE ROMs

[7]

PocketWorkstation

• Run Debian in a chroot environment
• Any debian ARM packages is available without porting.

[8]

Sharp Compatibility

• libraries are available to support applications build for the Sharp ROM on other ROMs.