Oolite on PSP?

Bluefusion · Post by **Bluefusion** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:48 pm

I would love to see a version of Oolite on the PSP.

I'm sure it would be possible as there are now a large number applications and games made by programmers running off the PSP memory sticks. (These apps/games are knows as homebrew).

I know there may be a lack of keys etc, but could it be navigated via a menu system like it was on the NES console all those years ago?

Post by **winston** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:00 pm

The main questions would be:

- Does it understand OpenGL?
- Are SDL libraries available?
- Can GNUstep be compiled for it?

If the answer to any of these is 'no' then Oolite won't (trivially) run on it. On the other hand if it runs Linux most the battle has been won already.

Rxke · Post by **Rxke** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:32 am

Despite there being a LinuxPSP Wiki, LinuxMIPS sez:

Linux support

There is none and there won't be any despite some people's foolish claims and attempts. The hardware lacks a TLB and as such is too primitive to run a real Linux kernel. µClinux would be a potential alternative but that would mean no binary compatibility with existing Linux/MIPS.

JensAyton · Post by **JensAyton** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:44 am

Does he mean a TLB, or an MMU?

Post by **winston** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:34 am

I wouldn't be surprised if it had neither a TLB or an MMU (there's not much point having a TLB if you don't have an MMU. Nor would I expect someone to put an MMU on a chip and not have a TLB).

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:46 am

Fascinating stuff, I'd better check the acronym dictionary PDQ

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:01 pm

Yup, unfortunately the MIPS R4K in the PSP is a 4km I believe. No TLB, No MMU, Sony in their infinite wisdom decided (allegedly) to handle all that fun stuff with a custom chip

This means no 'real' operating system support anytime soon.

Post by **winston** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:15 pm

They actually handle it at all? That surprises me - I'd assume they'd not even bother with virtual memory at all on a system like that let alone use custom chips to do it instead of just use the well tested and debugged MMU et al that comes with a full featured R4K...

(I used to have the use of a Linux powered CobaltRaQ2 which had an R4K in it - I don't remember the CPU speed, but it was remarkably puny even then - it was barely faster than my ancient MicroVAX despite being at least 6 or 7 years newer).

stimpee · Post by **stimpee** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:44 pm

For a portable OOlite I was thinking more of the GP32 or GP2X. Now THAT is Linux.

aegidian · Post by **aegidian** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:09 am

That'd be cool, but there's no hardware 3D on those devices and with no OpenGL Oolite would run like its trousers were filled with concrete.

Maybe they'll think about some 3D hardware for the next iteration of the GPxx.

Lucidor · Post by **Lucidor** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:29 am

Reading the Nintendo DS Linux FAQ, it seems that the lack of MMU isn't a very big problem. You'll just have to live without protected and virtual memory and only run well behaved apps. Oolite is wellbehaved, right? :^)

The big problem is that these devices have so little RAM (4 Mb in the DS) that the OS can barely run itself.

Lucidor · Post by **Lucidor** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:41 am

The XGP (next gen GP32) looks pretty nice:

* Screen: 480*272, 1.6 million colors, 4 inch TFT LCD, Widescreen (16:9) aspect
* Main CPU: ARM920T 266 MHz
* OS: Updated GPOS, Linux, and possibly a WindowsCE "option" as well.
* Graphics Accelerator: 1.5 million polygons per second (OpenGL ES supported)
* Sound: 64Polys 44.1 kHz, 16 bit stereo sound
* Network: WiFi - 802.11 b/g, WiBro
* NAND Flash Memory: 64 MB
* RAM: 64MB DDR SDRAM
* Storage: Secure Digital card
* Battery: Built-in Rechargeable Lithium ion battery
* Other Features: TV-Out, USB 2.0, open sdk
* Customer Target Price: 300$

aegidian · Post by **aegidian** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:26 am

Lucidor wrote:
The XGP (next gen GP32) looks pretty nice:

* Screen: 480*272, 1.6 million colors, 4 inch TFT LCD, Widescreen (16:9) aspect
* Main CPU: ARM920T 266 MHz
* OS: Updated GPOS, Linux, and possibly a WindowsCE "option" as well.
* Graphics Accelerator: 1.5 million polygons per second (OpenGL ES supported)
* Sound: 64Polys 44.1 kHz, 16 bit stereo sound
* Network: WiFi - 802.11 b/g, WiBro
* NAND Flash Memory: 64 MB
* RAM: 64MB DDR SDRAM
* Storage: Secure Digital card
* Battery: Built-in Rechargeable Lithium ion battery
* Other Features: TV-Out, USB 2.0, open sdk
* Customer Target Price: 300$

Excellent - then the linux port should need relatively few adaptations to work.

TGHC · Post by **TGHC** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:02 pm

Does it have joystick or mouse support?

Lucidor · Post by **Lucidor** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:36 pm

Check it out: http://www.gamepark.com/xgp.htm

Edit: Or perhaps you don't count the gamepad as a joystick?