PureTryOutJan 21, 2022

https://is-spi-on-pine64-devices-used-yet.site/

Did you notice that rather than on PC where you download a generic image which you can just live boot from USB, on ARM every distro needs to support every device individually? It's not just lacking mainline Linux support, it's also lacking a generic way to boot these devices like x86 has. #SPIflash can solve this perfectly by implementing UEFI on a dedicated chip but current new @PINE64 devices are lacking this. Let's get loud to make them add this again in new devices!

Is SPI used on PINE64 devices yet?

Show threadPureTryOutJan 21, 2022
Flashing so-called "platform firmware" which implements #UEFI, like u-boot, to this #SPIflash would allow the user to boot generic UEFI images not made specifically for the device in question. Finally you'd be able to properly live-boot a distribution through e.g. sdcards, USB sticks, etc. And you no longer have to wonder if your distro supports your particular device, you just have to download their generic UEFI image!
Show threadPureTryOut
Modules like #SPIflash are really important to achieve the goal we've set at #postmarketOS: device support for 10 years and more. Once a device is fully mainlined and can boot using a generic #UEFI image we no longer have to put any effort in supporting this particular device. Everything will "just work". Just like no distro put any effort in making it boot with my particular desktop and laptop.
Jan 21, 2022 at 8:04amWeb
Show threadPureTryOutJan 21, 2022

Luckily the awesome samueld from #NixOS has made a project called #Tow-Boot: https://github.com/Tow-Boot/Tow-Boot

It does exactly this: provide "platform firmware" for devices that implements #UEFI allowing you to boot generic UEFI ARM image. Myself and @martijnbraam are going to make postmarketOS support this kind of booting and I hope we can make this mandatory for every device that uses u-boot to boot. And I need _you_ to tell other distros to support this method of booting as well!

GitHub - Tow-Boot/Tow-Boot: An opinionated distribution of U-Boot. — https://matrix.to/#/#Tow-Boot:matrix.org?via=matrix.org

An opinionated distribution of U-Boot. — https://matrix.to/#/#Tow-Boot:matrix.org?via=matrix.org - GitHub - Tow-Boot/Tow-Boot: An opinionated distribution of U-Boot. — https://matrix.to/#/#Tow-Boot...

GitHub
Show threadPureTryOutJan 21, 2022
Because be honest, who doesn't want to see GRUB booting on your phone allowing you to choose from a multitude of installed distributions? 😉
Show threadPureTryOutJan 21, 2022

As a proof-of-concept, changing 3 lines made our pmOS image "just work" using tow-boot!
https://gitlab.com/postmarketOS/pmaports/-/merge_requests/2870

We're ready for #SPIflash on the #PinePhonePro @Pine64, just waiting for you ;)

pine64-pinephonepro: switch to UEFI booting (!2870) · Merge requests · postmarketOS / pmaports

This removes u-boot from our image and allows booting via an UEFI-compatible platform firmware instead. So to flash pmOS on the PPP now we will require the user...

GitLab
Show threadMinkiuJan 21, 2022
@bart tag didn't seem to work on your toot. @PINE64
Show threadNormand C. Jan 21, 2022
@bart
I read the web page you linked in your first toot. Not being very technical, I'm not sure about the status of the original Pinephone: is it possible to have SPI flash support it, or is it too late?
Show threadPureTryOutJan 21, 2022
@normandc It's a piece of hardware. You can't just add it to already shipped devices ;)
Show threadNormand C. Jan 22, 2022
@bart thanks.
in my defence, I did say I'm not very technical. ;-)
Show threadBlort™ 🐀Ⓥ🥋☣️Jan 27, 2022

@bart

OMG, I have been *wishing* for the ability to multiboot my phone so desperately! It would be so amazing to have the 3-4 most interesting OS's all installed on my #PinePhonePro, and just boot in and update occasionally without having to reinstall and set up each from scratch every. single. time. there's a new release. It would definitely make me use that distro more.

Hoping @ManjaroARM @ubports @ArchLinux_Community and @[email protected] incorporate this like #PostMarketOS ASAP!

#Towboot

Show threadPureTryOutJan 27, 2022

@Blort @ManjaroARM @ubports @ArchLinux_Community Thanks for your excitement! 😄 Quick note as it bothers the hell out of me, it's either "postmarketOS" or "pmOS", but not "PostMarketOS" lol.

Note that of course distributions will have to change their install methods, as right now most, including pmOS, just wipe the medium you're installing it on before installation. That shouldn't happen if you want to have 3 distros on your SD 😛

Show threadBlort™ 🐀Ⓥ🥋☣️Jan 27, 2022

@bart @ManjaroARM @ubports @ArchLinux_Community

Ok, capitalization advice taken!

#postmarketOS ;P

Show thread[[email protected] ~]$ Jan 27, 2022
@bart post_market_os 
Show threadPureTryOutJan 27, 2022
@Hanuwu How dare you!
Show threadCarl Schwan Jan 27, 2022
@bart @Hanuwu snake_case_for_the_win!
Show thread[[email protected] ~]$ Jan 27, 2022
@carlschwan *i-use-lisp-btw*
Show threadJavier JardónFeb 20, 2022
@bart one question: this would work for systemd-boot as well, right?
Show threadPureTryOutFeb 20, 2022
@jjardon Afaik that is just an EFI application, so then yes
Show threadJustinJan 23, 2022
@bart What is the process to get a device running this?
Show threadPureTryOutJan 23, 2022
@justinz SPI flash is a hardware component, you can't "install" it through software
Show threadJustinJan 23, 2022
@bart Ah OK, thanks for the info.