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README: better explanation of current status and what needs to be done next
author Mychaela Falconia <falcon@freecalypso.org>
date Sat, 28 Jul 2018 06:37:29 +0000
parents af6b7fcf7823
children ee67197fd2e5
comparison
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109:a68c6c7942d7 110:6ed76fdb72d5
27 to perform no worse than Magnetite hybrid. 27 to perform no worse than Magnetite hybrid.
28 28
29 * It is now possible to compile the full-featured fw with gcc without disabling 29 * It is now possible to compile the full-featured fw with gcc without disabling
30 GPRS (no more crash on boot), but actually using GPRS doesn't work: pppd 30 GPRS (no more crash on boot), but actually using GPRS doesn't work: pppd
31 establishes the point-to-point connection to the network's GGSN and gets an 31 establishes the point-to-point connection to the network's GGSN and gets an
32 IP address, but the trying to ping through this established connection causes 32 IP address, but then trying to ping through this established connection causes
33 the fw to crash. 33 the fw to crash.
34 34
35 * Voice, SMS and CSD appear to work in the gcc-built version, but this firmware 35 * Voice, SMS and CSD appear to work in the gcc-built version, but this firmware
36 is not as stable as Magnetite hybrid: I saw some occasional glitches which I 36 is not as stable as Magnetite hybrid: I saw some occasional glitches which I
37 did not investigate further. 37 did not investigate further.
38 38
39 Compared to FC Citrine, the present FC Selenite firmware built with gcc offers 39 Compared to FC Citrine (our previous attempt at gcc-built fw), the present
40 the following: 40 FC Selenite firmware built with gcc already offers the following:
41 41
42 * CSD support; 42 * CSD support;
43 43
44 * Audio services: playing beeps and melodies through the DSP; 44 * Audio services: playing beeps and melodies through the DSP;
45 45
46 * Newer code: FC Selenite branched off Magnetite in 2018-07, 46 * Newer code: FC Selenite branched off Magnetite in 2018-07,
47 whereas FC Citrine has been unmaintained since 2016-10. 47 whereas FC Citrine has been unmaintained since 2016-10.
48 48
49 At the present time the Mother has no plans to do any further work on this 49 Because FC Selenite gcc already does everything that FC Citrine could do and
50 experimental gcc-built fw, unless someone comes forth with a strong commercial 50 more, and is no less free, FC Citrine is now officially fully retired.
51 interest backed by substantial funding. 51
52 As the next step, someone needs to do the work of tracking down and debugging
53 all of the issues seen in the gcc-built version, and make it work as well as
54 the original TMS470-built configuration. However, I (Mother Mychaela) am not
55 currently allocating my time toward that work because I see other directions
56 within the greater FreeCalypso family of projects as being more important.
57 Specifically, I see the following as much higher priorities compared to
58 gcc-built firmware:
59
60 * Getting our FCDEV3B V2 boards made to prove my proposed fix for the sleep
61 mode bug, and if they work as expected, we'll need to make more FreeCalypso
62 modem hw in various form factors and put that hw into the hands of end users.
63 Software or firmware without hardware to run it on is useless no matter how
64 good or how free/libre it is, hence it makes no sense to me to worry whether
65 our fw is built with gcc or with TI's TMS470 compiler until the hardware
66 that's needed to run it is made in greater volume and placed into the hands
67 of people who would appreciate it.
68
69 * Getting the digital voice channel over MCSI working, which is a prerequisite
70 before we can repackage our FreeCalypso modem into a module form factor which
71 could then be marketed to communities like Neo900 and Librem 5 as a drop-in
72 replacement for the 100% closed and proprietary modem modules they use
73 currently.
74
75 * Building our long-planned FreeCalypso Libre Dumbphone hardware, so we can
76 have a complete phone without needing someone else like Neo900 or Librem 5 or
77 ZeroPhone to provide an application processor front-end to our modem.
78
79 Anyone else who feels that whipping the gcc-built fw version into shape should
80 be a higher priority has two options: either do the work themselves (the code
81 is free for everyone), or pay Falconia Partners LLC to elevate the priority of
82 this gcc-built fw work.