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Minimal Debian (u-boot, kernel, and Debian from scratch)

  • Writer: Alex
    Alex
  • Jun 1, 2020
  • 2 min read

I created a clean Debian, and u-boot from scratch to be used in our device.

The menu is Retroarch. It boots directly to it in KMS mode (without X11). I have been working on an optimized version of retroarch with brightness control, more OSD options, power off, reboot on the menu, and other small features, but I decided to use the retroarch from the official repository. Maybe someone wants to use my build for other stuff, and it is very easy to uninstall retroarch now (apt uninstall retroarch). I’ll launch my retroarch in a dpkg file in the future to keep compatibility.

The OS only uses ~500MB of disk space, but I couldn’t shrink the partition I used, so you need at least a 2 GB SD card ( You will have 1.5GB of free space).

I documented as much as possible so someone else can recreate what I did. The skeleton (u-boot, kernel, partition procedure) can be the base for a Buildroot or another distribution.


Functionalities

  • Based on Debian Bullseye for the latest MESA driver with full lima support.

  • Clean OS with only Debian packages (no handmade compiled binaries) and small tweaks for hardware compatibility with gameshell.

  • No strange symbolic links nor duplicate files.

  • Max CPU frequency of 1.4GHz.

    • I don’t consider it an overclock. It is inside CPU specs, you can always use the governor settings to limit the frequency and increase battery life. The default governor is performance.


  • Standby mode (freeze) by pressing quickly the power key.

  • Power off by long-press (~2 seconds) the power key.

  • 500 MB of space occupied in the disk.

    • The system uses the minimum necessary to have a full Debian distribution with all the functionalities such as:

      • Package management (apt-get).

      • Wifi management with wpa-supplicant.

      • Bluetooth with bluez server.

      • DHCP server for USB ethernet functionality. I’m using network 192.168.11.x because some routers use the 192.168.10.x and using it will cause network problems.

      • SSH server.

      • Retroarch as a menu, and starting at boot. Takes around ~20 seconds from power on to get RetroArch running.


  • RAM usage of only 29MB, and 51MB with RetroArch running.

  • Cedrus support enabled in the kernel.

    • This is for video encoding/decoding in hardware. The libva driver still not complete, but we should have it soon. This will be good if you want to record your game with retroarch and ffmpeg driver.


  • Charging LED is now in userspace (next release 0.2).

    • I Patched the kernel. Now you have the charging LED (Orange LED) in the userspace at (/sys/class/leds/axp20x\:chgled/). You can control it manually (to use it for what you want like a normal led), or automatic (controlled by the charger).


  • Enabled status LED (green LED) to monitor (next release 0.2):

    • Activity (CPU usage) [default mode], you can change it in the userspace.

    • Heartbeat. (I will use it later to signalize standby mode)


Known Issues

  • HDMI doesn’t work.

  • LED’s doesn’t work. FIXED (next release 0.2).


Download:


Documentation, and patches can be found on:

20 commentaires


This minimal Debian setup is perfect for retro gaming enthusiasts! Running u-boot, kernel, and Debian from scratch creates a lean OS, ideal for enjoying your favorite titles. The inclusion of Retroarch makes it easy to dive into the action. It's amazing how much functionality is packed into just 500MB. If you're looking for a fun distraction, maybe try some io games after setting this up!


J'aime

rupertamature
6 days ago

Out of curiosity, have you considered any optimizations for idle power consumption? It's amazing what you can achieve with a focused approach; it kinda reminds me of sinking hours into optimizing my Cookie Clicker strategy back in the day! Keep up the great work!

J'aime

booting debian from scratch with u-boot and a minimal kernel is impressive—especially with only 500mb disk use and just 51mb ram while retroarch runs. perfect for handhelds. try adding mapquest driving directions for easy ssh access to mobile nodes.

J'aime

This guide on Minimal Debian (u-boot, kernel, and Debian from scratch) is very helpful for anyone wanting to learn from the beginning. It explains the steps clearly and simply, making it easy to follow. Just like how good reviews for dissertation proposal help students choose the right support, this guide helps users build a clean Debian system without confusion. It’s a great resource for beginners who want a solid start.

J'aime

Interesting project, Joao_Manoel! A minimal Debian build is always valuable. Sounds like a great base for customization. That lean 500MB footprint is impressive. It makes me think about efficient game development. Perhaps this could even be used to create a lightweight environment for running simple web games like Slope Game. Documenting the build process is excellent for community contributions and further development.


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