The next big project in work at freeio.org is a Next Generation Software Development Unit. This is based on the Motorola MCF5307 ColdFire processor, and is being built from the start to run uClinux (look here and here for details) which is a version of GNU/Linux optimized for processors without memory management units, such as the Motorola DragonBall and ColdFire. This unit is being designed to meet one of our contributors needs, and will be easily extendable. As usual, all designs and software will be released under GPL.

Wxx is now out of the loop for most activities, and web site development is the latest part to be switched. Further site development will be done with the GNU/Linux platform, using free software for building web pages (Mozilla, at least for now). The only part of the activity which still really requires Wxx is the CPLD/FPGA development, where both Lattice and Xilinx tools are not yet available for GNU/Linux. Pity….

The Specification files in Adobe Acrobat format, and the schematic files in HPGL (the most common plotter language) have been added for both the Flapjack and Cornbread boards. HPGL is a vector format which not only provides excellent quality plots on HP and clone plotters, but is also readily imported into many graphics programs.