Tiny Core Linux piCore is an open source software project derived from the well known Tiny Core Linux distribution, but engineered to be used on a Raspberry Pi computer board. It will provide users with a minimal desktop/development environment for building operating systems based on Tiny Core.
A minimal OS distributed in multiple editions
Believe it or not, Tiny Core Linux piCore is distributed in multiple editions, as zip archived binary/source files that must be copied to a SD card in order to boot them from your Raspberry Pi device. The user can download editions with or without X Window System, with SSH pre-installed, as well as QEMU and boot images.
Runs entirely in RAM
As you might know, the Tiny Core Linux operating system run entirely in RAM (system memory) and requires no installation, as it will download applications over Internet and mount them read-only. Keep in mind though that any change you make to the live system will not survive after reboot.
Two operational modes are provided for this Linux distribution, Mounted Mode and Cloud Mode. While the later was explained above, the first one will save the changes you make to the live environment, simply by storing downloaded apps on a separate partition on the SD card.
Very basic desktop environment, à la Tiny Core
The minimal desktop environment of Tiny Core is also present of this Raspberry Pi edition, providing users with a dock (application launcher) on the bottom edge of the screen and a handful of apps, such as a terminal emulator, storage mounting utility, package manager and system settings. The main menu can be access be right clicking anywhere on the desktop.
Bottom line
Summing up, Tiny Core Linux piCore is a minimal and basic operating system for the small Raspberry Pi computer, designed from the ground up to be used by experienced users who want to build their very own Linux distirbutions.
What is new in this release:
- Most interesting changes in this release:
- single SD-card image with SSH preinstalled for all boards, no separate armv6/armv7 image anymore
- *MicroPython added to base, it offers faster and more efficient scripting than traditional shells
- Core components:
- Kernel 4.1.13
- glibc 2.22
- gcc 5.3.0
- e2fsprogs 1.42.13
- util-linux 2.27.1
- BusyBox 1.24.1
- MicroPython 1.5.2-35
What is new in version 6.3 / 7.0 Alpha 1:
- Core v6.3 includes several more improvements to speed up the tce-* scripts and correct nfsv4 support.
What is new in version 6.1:
- Core base synced to common 6.0 base
- Raspberry Pi firmware updated to January 19, 2015 version
- e2fsprogs updated to 1.42.12
- util-linux updated to 2.25.2
- BusyBox v1.20.2
- eglibc replaced with glibc, version 2.20
- kernel modules in base rearranged
- cmdline.txt simplified, dropped waitusb switch
- serial terminal started by default
- GCC updated to 4.9.2
- tcz repository updated
What is new in version 6.0:
- Core base synced to common 6.0 base
- Raspberry Pi firmware updated to January 19, 2015 version
- e2fsprogs updated to 1.42.12
- util-linux updated to 2.25.2
- BusyBox v1.20.2
- eglibc replaced with glibc, version 2.20
- kernel modules in base rearranged
- cmdline.txt simplified, dropped waitusb switch
- serial terminal started by default
- GCC updated to 4.9.2
- tcz repository updated
What is new in version 5.3:
- Linux kernel updated to 3.14.4
- Raspberry Pi firmware updated to May 12, 2014 version
- e2fsprogs updated to 1.42.10
- util-linux updated to 2.24
- official BusyBox patches applied
- curaga's wget3 BusyBox patch applied, setting default timeout to 10s
- tce-load: Don't show an error when extension contains multiple modules
- tce-load: Use sudo when unmounting meta-extensions
- patched to enable HDMI sound at 192 kbit/s rate (thanks sbp)
- patched rtl8192cu driver to disable powersaving
- enabled CMA and FIQ-FSM by default
- filetool.sh "Done" message cosmetics
What is new in version 5.2.1:
- kernel updated to 3.13.6
- updated RPi firmware
- added more protection of TC scripts against bad extensions
- added kernel modules required by USB 3G adapters
- added kernel modules required to connect WiFi AP with SHA encryption
- added ntpserver= boot option to define ntp server (default pool.ntp.org)
- added /etc/sysconfig/ntpserver config file to define ntp server address
- fixed issues that modules were not found in /usr/local/lib
- USB CLASS modules are not built into the kernel but real modules part of base
What is new in version 5.2:
- kernel updated to 3.13.3
- updated RPi firmware
- useBusybox in tc-functions changed to eliminate interference with certain installed GNU apps
- rebuildfstab: do not replace fstab entries for a device that does not have "Added by TC" on the line
- init: increase the default inode count
- ondemand: don't list extensions under subdirs in onboot maintenance
- Busybox split suid/nosuid for better security
- ldd: Added quotes for binaries with spaces in their names
- /etc/services: modified to suit rpcbind rather than portmap
- tc-functions: Removed the getpasswd stars to allow backspace to work
- added accelerated arm-mem library to spead-up memcmp, memcpy, memmove & memset
- added ntpd BusyBox applet
- getTime.sh now using ntpd to get time
- preinstalled packages updated
- frame buffer driver replaced with accelerated fbturbo
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