Debian GNU/Linux for PDAs an Unofficial Proposal

Writing the Linux Mobile Guide - Installing, Maintaining and Tuning of Linux on Mobile Computers, I researched Linux applications for PDAs. Since Debian/GNU Linux is my favorite distribution I started to collect information about PDA related Debian packages. This text reflects my personal thoughts only. It's not an official Debian document. The list is probably incomplete yet.

Back to Debian/GNU Linux and Knoppix for Laptops, Notebooks, PDAs, Mobile Phones, Portable Players, ...

Packages

Program	Description	Developer Site
Synchronization
kitchensync	Synchronization framework.
kdebluetooth-irmcsync	IrMCSync Konnector for kitchensync
synce-serial	SynCE connection manipulation scripts.
malsync	communicates between a 3Com Pilot and the AvantGo webservers (and other MAL enabled servers)
coldsync	syncing PalmOS PDAs with a Unix workstation with a focus on consistancy of data
multisync	program to synchronize PIM data
multisync-tools	PIM Synchronisation Command Line Tools
unison	file-synchronization tool for Unix and Windows
lpkg	install Newton packages from your Linux machine to your Apple's Newton MessagePad PDA
irda-tools	IrDA handling tools for Linux
ircp	utility for "beaming" files via IrDA
bluez-sdp	BlueZ Bluetooth SDP daemon and tool
bluez-pcmcia	PCMCIA support files for BlueZ 2.0 Bluetooth tools
bluez-utils	utilities for controlling Bluetooth devices
affix	User space utilities for the Affix Bluetooth protocol stack
osflash	Reflash the OS of a Palm Computing Device
p3nfs	Mount the file systems on the Psion/Symbian PDA/Phone.
romeo	Palm ROM Discombobulator
klipsi	remote cut & paste for Psion PDA
ic35link	Synchronization tools for the Siemens IC35 PDA
kpsion	Backup and Restore of a Psion PDA
plptools	Access a Psion PDA over a serial link
openobex-apps	Object Exchange Protocol apps
obexserver	Receive files with OBEX protocol
Handwriting
wayv	enables human computer interaction, especially using gestures inputed via mouse
xstroke	X11 pen-based character input
Server
pyrite-publisher	building PalmPilot e-texts in the de facto standard Doc format (former palm-doctoolkit)
Distributions
Matt Zimmermann	offers Debian packages for the SHARP SL-5500 Zaurus
op-advancedfm-fb	Opie Advanced File Manager, this is an example for app. 170 OPIE packages, all named op-*
vrdeb	offers Debian packages for the Agenda VR3
Misc
kcemirror	Windows CE remote control tool like VNC
makeztxt	Create zTXT databases from ASCII files to read them in a Palm
gok	GNOME Onscreen Keyboard
makeztxt	Create zTXT databases from ASCII files to read them in a Palm.
gpe-contacts	Contact manager for GPE.
phpgroupware-addressbook	phpGrouhpWare addressbook management module

Mobile Debian

The `debian-pilot` mailing list is not for people who fly airplanes :-) It's for people who run Debian on the 3com Palm-Pilot.

The `debian-handheld` mailing list is for people who run Debian on handheld devices.

The Debian Zaurus project aims to create a full-featured, plug-and-play Debian environment for the Zaurus, with all the trimmings, including package management with dpkg and apt. A small demo is available.

Debian provides ARM ports.

See also my Debian Laptop Proposal.

Quotes from Debian Weekly News - DWN:

Mobile Debian? Josh Hansen [27] wondered if there is any current plan for a mobile edition of the Debian distribution, for use on handhelds like the iPAQ. Shaleh [28] explained that Debian has been used as a basis for the iPaq's linux distribution. However, it is not designed for handhelds so they changed a lot. Even use a different (but very very similar) packaging format. Additionally, there is the [29] Intimate Project which is a fully blown Debian-based GNU/Linux distribution for the Compaq iPAQ, and the [30] Familiar Project that works on creating the next generation of PDA OS, and that has just recently published the [31] release candidate for v0.5.1. ...

... Debian on Zaurus PDA. Joey Hess [6] informed us that it looks like Sharp's Zaurus PDA (the one with the neat integrated keyboard) uses busybox dpkg and Debian packages. There's also a [7] sourceforge project which covers open source development of tools, applications, and games for the Zaurus PDA. ...

... Debian on the Sharp Zaurus. Matt Zimmerman recently had the good [51] fortune of having one of these delightful little toys come into his possession. Matt is interested in creating a full-featured Debian environment for the Zaurus, with all the trimmings (including package management with dpkg and apt). Philip Blundell pointed to the [52] GPE effort which also uses Debian as base distribution apparently. ...

... Debian Zaurus Update. Matt Zimmerman released an [43] update report about Debian on handhelds in general and the Zaurus in particular. He added a brief record of where we've been and where we stand on current development. [44] Opie packages for example are coming along wonderfully, and are progressing into Debian unstable. Phil Blundell has further packaged some parts of [45] GPE for Debian, an X11- and GTK-based desktop project. ...

... Familiar Packages for Debian? Russell Coker [30] pondered packaging the [31] Familiar distribution of Linux for Debian. It consists of a boot loader (non-linux binary), an image of the root file system (JFFS2 file system image) which is about 13 MB, a kernel patch for 2.4.19, gcc and binutils for cross-compiling ARM code on an i386 platform and finally a complete tool chain. This is a total of about 130 MB.

vrdeb

vrdeb is a set of utilities to compile and manage source and binary packages for the Agenda VR3 Linux pda. As implied by the name, vrdeb uses the Debian packaging format.

Pocketworkstation

Pocket Workstation - Debian on Handhelds features:

• Full Debian GNU/Linux operating environment, with easy access to the many GB of available software. Want the Evolution groupware system and have 80MB free space on your SD card? Run "apt-get install evolution", go eat lunch and come back to find it ready to run. No porting needed.
• includes X11 able to run most Linux applications - it supports virtual screens larger than the physical screen, realtime anti-aliased scaling and rotation, 3-mouse-button emulation and a full keyboard (useful i.e. if you need to send Ctrl-Alt-Del to an application).
• VNC client [1]fbvnc (same features as X11 above) - remote administer your NT box from your Zaurus.
• Runs completely out of a single directory (a 128MB MMC card is ideal), no re-flashing or modification of the existing operating system is required. [3][IMG]
• Switch between qtopia and X11 whenever you like without rebooting or needing to stop any of your X11 applications. This currently still requires waiting half a minute for QPE to load, but I'm working on making it near-instantaneous.
• See also the Debian-On-Zaurus-HOWTO.