Admittedly, I don’t really know what Linux is. As a student studying computer science, I’ve come in contact with the name numerous times, but telling me it’s a “family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel” never seemed to help with my understanding.
However, as Steve Wozniak famously said, “all the best people in life seem to like Linux”, and as a self-certified “best person”, this was enough to push me to start learning.
Jokes aside, I am aware of Linux’s ubiquity in all areas of computing, including embedded systems, and its importance for developers of various levels, including beginners such as myself.
This is my attempt at learning Linux (and Embedded Linux) on the BeagleBone Black platform using a wonderful Udemy course (huge shoutout to Kiran Nayak). I hope to gain a solid understanding of various Linux concepts and learn how they can be used in the context of embedded systems through hands-on experince.
So, without further ado, let us dive in.
Table of Contents
Part 1 - Setting Up and Installing Ubuntu
This is the comparatively boring and supposedly easy part of the course, where I get everything set up for the things to come. I’ll be connecting the required cables, accessing the kernel using Teraterm, working with the Cloud9 IDE on the web interface, and installing Ubuntu on my PC.
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Let’s connect the board to my PC first.
As for now, with no peripherials, the things required were as such:
- BeagleBone Black
- USB-TTL cable
- USB-Micro USB cable
The USB to Micro USB cable gave power to the board, as well as giving me access to its eMMC where I found the required drivers.
The USB to TTL cable connected to BBB to my PC. After installing a new driver and buying a second cable, I got things to work. I can now access the kernel using Teraterm.
(Tx to Rx and Rx to Tx)
(not sure what I'm doing here)
Now, I have access to the web interface and Cloud9 IDE, where I can run a pre-written JS script or write my own scripts. As for now, I’ll try running a script that blinks the LEDs.
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This project is on hiatus for the time being. I’ll return to it after I complete this first.
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Part 2 - Booting Linux and …
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