+
+ + + Full functionality requires Linux 2.2.x or better. A large fraction of the + code should run on just about anything. While the current code is fairly + Linux specific, it should be fairly easy to port the majority of the code + to support, say, FreeBSD or Solaris, or Mac OS X, or even Windows (if you + are into that sort of thing). + + +
+
+ + + BusyBox in general will build on any architecture supported by gcc. + Kernel module loading for 2.2 and 2.4 Linux kernels is currently + limited to ARM, CRIS, H8/300, x86, ia64, x86_64, m68k, MIPS, PowerPC, + S390, SH3/4/5, Sparc, v850e, and x86_64 for 2.4.x kernels. + + With 2.6.x kernels, module loading support should work on all architectures. + + +
+
+ + + uClibc and glibc are supported. People have been looking at newlib and + dietlibc, but they are currently considered unsupported, untested, or + worse. Linux-libc5 is no longer supported. If you require a small C + library, you should probably use uClibc. + + +
+
+
+ + If you find a problem with BusyBox, please submit a detailed bug report to + the BusyBox mailing list at + busybox@mail.busybox.net. Please do not send private email to Erik + (the maintainer of BusyBox) asking for private help unless you are planning + on paying for consulting services. When we answer questions on the BusyBox + mailing list, it helps everyone, while private answers help only you... + +
+ + If you find bugs, please submit a detailed bug report to the BusyBox mailing + list at busybox@mail.busybox.net. A well-written bug report should include a + transcript of a shell session that demonstrates the bad behavior and enables + anyone else to duplicate the bug on their own machine. The following is such + an example: + +
+ To: busybox@mail.busybox.net + From: diligent@testing.linux.org + Subject: /bin/date doesn't work + + Package: BusyBox + Version: 1.00 + + When I execute BusyBox 'date' it produces unexpected results. + With GNU date I get the following output: + + $ date + Fri Oct 8 14:19:41 MDT 2004 + + But when I use BusyBox date I get this instead: + + $ date + illegal instruction + + I am using Debian unstable, kernel version 2.4.27 on a x86 system, + and the latest uClibc from CVS. Thanks for the wonderful program! + + -Diligent ++ + Note the careful description and use of examples showing not only what BusyBox + does, but also a counter example showing what an equivalent GNU app does. Bug + reports lacking proper detail may never be fixed... Thanks for understanding. + +
+
+ + Job control will be turned off since your shell can not obtain a controlling + terminal. This typically happens when you run your shell on /dev/console. + The kernel will not provide a controlling terminal on the /dev/console + device. Your should run your shell on a normal tty such as tty1 or ttyS0 + and everything will work perfectly. If you REALLY want your shell + to run on /dev/console, then you can hack your kernel (if you are into that + sortof thing) by changing drivers/char/tty_io.c to change the lines where + it sets "noctty = 1;" to instead set it to "0". I recommend you instead + run your shell on a real console... + + +
+
+ + An easy method to build your own basic BusyBox based system, is to + follow these simple steps: +
+
+ + You have not paid us a single cent and yet you still have the product of + many years of our work. We are not your slaves! We work on BusyBox + because we find it useful and interesting. If you go off flaming us, we + will ignore you. + + +
+
+ + If you find that you need help with BusyBox, you can ask for help on the + BusyBox mailing list at busybox@mail.busybox.net. In addition to the BusyBox + mailing list, Erik (andersee), Manuel (mjn3) and others are known to hang out + on the uClibc IRC channel: #uclibc on irc.freenode.net. + +
+ + Please do not send private email to Erik, Manuel, or the other BusyBox + contributors asking for private help unless you are planning on paying for + consulting services. + +
+ + When we answer questions on the BusyBox mailing list, it helps everyone + since people with similar problems in the future will be able to get help + by searching the mailing list archives. Private help is reserved as a paid + service. If you need to use private communication, or if you are serious + about getting timely assistance with BusyBox, you should seriously consider + paying for consulting services. + +
+ + + +
+
+ + Sure! Now you have our attention! What you should do is contact Erik Andersen of CodePoet Consulting to bid + on your project. If Erik is too busy to personally add your feature, there + are many other active BusyBox contributors who will almost certainly be able + to help you out. Erik can contact them privatly, and may even let you to + post your request for services on the mailing list. + + +
+
+ + Wow, that would be great! Erik personally pays for all the bandwidth, and + all servers used for busybox.net out of his own pocket. If you would like + to make a donation to help support BusyBox, and/or request features, you + can click here: + + +