Write Emulator-Friendly Linux Code
By Peter Seebach2005-04-16
Emulators as a Distribution Format
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Although this article focuses on ways to run Linux binaries on other platforms, distribution of compiled binaries has its place as well. As Linux emulation becomes more widespread, the Linux binary format becomes a viable way to distribute simple programs without giving out source code. Linux binaries can be run on a broad variety of systems, admittedly sometimes at a cost -- there are challenges in using the Linux binary format as a general distribution format.
Emulation usually isn't enough to let you run a shared object built for one system in a program built for another. If your product is mostly distributed as a shared library object, it probably can't be loaded on other platforms.
There are those who would argue that using the Linux binary format for distribution of code to other platforms is crazy. It may be crazy, but it works. For a few years, my primary Web browser was running under emulation (to say nothing of word processors, document converters, and even credit-card processing software).
Much of the software applications we like to use are commercial, and commercial software vendors benefit greatly from being able to distribute a single binary that runs on a great number of platforms. Given the variety of Linux emulation available, the Linux binary format is starting to look like a real software distribution option.
Oh, and porting source code is a much different task than distribution; frequently, porting is a much easier task.
Tutorial Pages:
» A Developer's Guide to Linux Emulators and How They Operate
» The Basic Emulator
» Emulators as a Distribution Format
» Full Hardware Emulators
» Partial Hardware Emulators
» Software Emulators
» Like Normal Development, Only More So
» Resources
First published by IBM DeveloperWorks
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