Problems with Firefly support

tlgimenes

Hello

I'm a user of firefly too and I suffer from their lack of support too

1) I don't know. I had to make my own image many times because they don't support many Linux distributions. Like seriously, I'm just an engineering student and managed to make arch Linux run under firefly during my vacations and they are the company that builds this board and they don't at least update their images. If you guys want I can work for you and support many distributions and Linux versions !

2) I don't know. This GPUs sucks and usually to make it work you have to be a Linux guru. But here to problem is not of the firefly team, since GPUs sucks on other boards too and even on x86.

tlgimenes

See, even after 5, FIVE days no answers yet !

Today I was surfing on google plus and I found a guy saying this board is dead since no-one talks anything on this forum. Then I open the firefly main webpage and what do I see ? A new, refresh version of the firefly rk3288. Why, instead of spending time and money building a new version firefly-rk3288 which is already really good, spend this money refreshing the outdated 3.10 linux kernel or making up-to-date images ?

Seriously, can anyone answer me ? We are not the only buyers who complains about the lack of support !

tlgimenes

Hello busybee !

First of all, thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it !

I see some recuring problems with users and the support of the firefly. Here are the main problems that I can spot

1) Why are there just old Ubuntu 14.04 images on the official repository ? According to my view of the firefly, it is a really great performing chip that could easily be used as a desktop replacement, and, If we use it as such, sometimes we need new libraries and software that are only available on new versions of Ubuntu. You could answer this question saying that I could  build a new image of Ubuntu with any version I want, as explained on the wiki, but, as I've already read on this forum, there are some users that don't have the required knowledge to do it.

2) Why not support other linux distros ? Supporting other linux distros shouldn't be much different thant supporting Ubuntu, i.e, the process of building the Ubuntu image should be analogue to building any other linux distro. One example of this is that I've built an Arch Linux image following the firefly's Ubuntu wiki !

3) Why not create/update the kernel repository with at least a kernel 4.x ? Sometimes I have to use some functions and funcionalities that exists on kernel 4.x or plus and I couldn't still compile sucessfuly the mainline kernel using the VGA or HDMI output, so I'm still stucked with the stock kernel 3.10 of more than 3 years ago.

4) The forth point is more an advice. Generally, mali GPUs are a real pain in any arm based boards running linux. Why not use next time a more linux-friendly GPU, like the one Raspberry PI uses, which is well documented and the drivers are available ?!

Thank you, hope this discussion can give us better directions

tlgimenes

Hello !!

I totally agree with mac_l1 and would like to say sorry for my previous posts because I was a little mad with things not working as they should with the firefly.
I also think that if we manage to accomplish untill step 3, firefly would be a winner. If we manage to achieve untill step 4, I can change all of the 15PCs in my company for firefly boards

tlgimenes

Hello Again,

Well, after 17 days, I think it's time to ask if we (users) have some official pronunciation of the firefly team

Thanks !

tlgimenes

27 days and counting ...

tlgimenes

35 .... is the company bankrupt ?!

tlgimenes

Somebody want's to buy mine too ?! I accept offers