Should BusyBox and uClibc also make a "flag version" likeEmbedded Linux?

[Denys Vlasenko]

On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 12:06 AM, Cathey, Jim <jcathey at ciena.com> wrote:
> consider updating.  But if BB v20 is notably bigger
> than BB v2, as configured, that could be a problem.
>
> Especially if the toaster were quite resource-constrained.
> And spending more ROM bytes on infrastructure like BB is
> usually much less attractive than spending them on direct
> features.

Let's see. Here is 1.00 defconfig versus 1.17.3 with the equivalent config
(both .configs are attached):

   text	   data	    bss	    dec	    hex	filename
 296235	   4212	  40560	 341007	  5340f	busybox-1.00/busybox
 305633	   3041	   8944	 317618	  4d8b2	busybox-1.17.3/busybox

As you see, a bit more code, a lot less data, with overall decrease in size.

Worst size offenders, BTW, aren't in 1.00 defconfig - try enabling dpkg.
It has 276656 (!!!) bytes of bss in common variables:

# nm --size-sort dpkg.o | tail -3
0000000000010000 C status_hashtable
00000000000138c0 C package_hashtable
000000000001fff0 C name_hashtable


> 'Stale' software is a fact of life in embedded world.
> We prefer to pronounce it 'stable', however!

I wasn't implying you are using staBle software for bad reasons :D

-- 
vda
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: .config-1.00.bz2
Type: application/x-bzip2
Size: 2178 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.busybox.net/pipermail/uclibc/attachments/20101106/88dd7cb9/attachment-0002.bin>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: .config-1.17.3.bz2
Type: application/x-bzip2
Size: 5273 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.busybox.net/pipermail/uclibc/attachments/20101106/88dd7cb9/attachment-0003.bin>