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This has come up so many times. It has far too little memory for Linux, but ignoring that, the MMU is broken and can't support virtual memory (not that they cl

This has come up so many times. It has far too little memory for Linux, but ignoring that, the MMU is broken and can't support virtual memory (not that they claim to support supervisor mode anywhere).

desdiv 8y ago
Kendryte K210 is designed for FreeRTOS[0] and other embedded OSes. Complaining that it doesn't support Linux is like complaining that a Honda Civic can't compete in Formula One. [0] https://github.com/kendryte/kendryte-freertos-sdk https://github.com/kendryte/kendryte-freertos-sdk
- trhway 8y ago
  in 1995 the Linux (Slackware) was flying on 25MHz 386SX with 4M RAM :)
  - 3chelon 8y ago
    +1 for nostalgia!
  - SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
    ...in part because the 80386 supported virtual memory.
- sharpneli 8y ago
  There are various slimmed down versions of Linux. The kernel itself can be squeezed down into rather small footprint. It's the lack of full MMU that's the actual reason, it keeps the chip firmly in the microcontroller domain.
andrewstuart 8y ago
I'd be happy if it ran FreeRTOS. 8MB sounds like a whole lot of memory to me ... currently working with less than 512K on the esp32.
- jimmies 8y ago
  I have a LOLIN32 with 4MB RAM, it is a dream.
  - Narishma 8y ago
    Are you sure that's RAM and not flash?
    - fermuch 8y ago
      Not sure about GP, but the ESP32 supports psram up to 4mb, and newer chip versions come with an integrated 8mb psram.
PinguTS 8y ago
It is not designed as a general purpose microchip. It is designed as a microcontroller type microchip. Memory is expansive, because Si chip area is expansive. The chip is designed for cheap special purpose applications. For that it fulfills the function. Btw. you can run Linux on it, you just need to do something and can't simply put the latest and greatest Ubuntu distribution on it.