3MX

3MX (Matt's Mipsel Mini Linux) is a GNU/Linux operating system distribution designed specifically to run on small netbooks based on the Skytone Alpha-400 mini-laptop design.[1] Mipsel refers to the MIPS architecture operating with a little endian representation, supported by the Ingenic Semiconductor JZ4730 system on a chip employed in the supported products. Matt refers to Matt Oudenhoven,[2] who also uses the identity wicknix.[3]

The distribution is derived from a combination of the original recovery image for the product, binary packages from Debian GNU/Linux distribution, and some packages built from source using the OpenEmbedded software framework.[4]

Versions and variants

A small number of freely-available versions exist that are merely variants of the core system, providing certain functional differences and bug fixes, offering the familiar trade-off between higher performance in earlier versions and enhancements in later versions.

The 3MX Ultra release features more than one Web browser, unlike the original software provided for the product, and it also features a word processor, spreadsheet, PDF reader, HTML editor, e-mail and instant messaging software, video and MP3 player, Internet radio, sound recorder, Flash player, Game Boy emulator, a number of Linux games including Tetris, a Super NES emulator and much more, giving it an extensive range of features.

The 3MX Retro release is essentially a faster, better-featured version of the default Alpha 400 software environment.

Release branches

3MX release naming tends to employ "rc" (release candidate), "final" and other version-related nomenclature interchangeably.[5] Thus, 3MX-rc1.1 and 3MX 1.1 (for example) may be considered as referring to the same thing.

3MX-rc1

The 3MX-rc1 branch, providing the 3MX-rc1.1[6] and 3MX-rc1.2 releases,[7] is the original branch of the software. It also provides the Bon Echo (Firefox 2) browser and Pidgin instant messaging client.

3MX-rc2

3MX-rc2 is a subsequent branch of the software,[8] culminating in the rc2.1 release.[9] It replaces Bon Echo with Firefox 3.

3MX-rc3

3MX-rc3 introduced numerous new applications, replacing Firefox with Iceweasel,[5] culminating with 3MX-rc3.1.[10]

3MX-rc4

3MX-rc4 is the final separate branch of the software, aiming to deliver the most functionality (a lot of popular games, updated applications, a working battery status monitor icon).[11]

3MX Ultra

3MX Ultra is a continuation of the 3MX-rc1 branch as opposed to the further development of the 3MX-rc4 branch.[11] It provides the SkipStone Web browser instead of Bon Echo.

3MX Ultra2

An update to 3MX Ultra. It was released silently and included a newer version of Pidgin (with Facebook-plugin), Abiword-plugins, Lynx and DosBox. Also the taskbar-icons are more complete.

3MX Ultra3

Although Ultra2 was considered one of the most stable and usable 3MX-releases, the author announced 3MX Ultra3 as the final 3MX-release.[12] Suggestions for new programs and features were made on the Small Linux Laptop forum.[13]

This release provided many bug fixes and a few new programs, such as Defendguin and a shareware version of Doom (prboom). Significant applications include the following:

References

  1. ↑ "New distro coming soon".
  2. ↑ Matt Oudenhoven (14 March 2011). "[Mipsbook-devel] New rootfs".
  3. ↑ "Nosey Nosey...".
  4. ↑ "3MX toolchain/build instructions".
  5. 1 2 "3MX-rc3-final released".
  6. ↑ "3MX-rc1.1 now available".
  7. ↑ "3MX-rc1.2 Released".
  8. ↑ "3MX-rc2 now available".
  9. ↑ "3MX-rc2.1 now available".
  10. ↑ "3MX-rc3.1 update released.".
  11. 1 2 "3MX 4.0 Released".
  12. ↑ "3MX Ultra3 released.".
  13. ↑ "[3MX Ultra2] Suggestions for Ultra3".

External links

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