Graphics for Embedded Linux

Increasingly, embedded systems incorporate graphical displays and touch screens to create a rich man-machine interface. Linux, of course, has the capability to display complex graphics as anybody who has seen Linux running on a desktop PC will know.

But, graphical environments are memory-hungry and can easily eat up hundreds of MB of RAM and storage.

This course describes the architecture of graphical environments on Linux, especially the X windows system, and shows how to create optimised systems that are suitable for embedded use. Topics include X servers, frame buffers, programming environments, the GTK+ and Qt widget libraries.

Course Code: EL-301

Course Duration: 3 days

Price excl VAT: Please contact Feabhas (available for onsite delivery only)

Course details PDF:

Course Outline

Linux and Graphics

Types of display hardware
Frame buffer drivers
Input devices: keyboard, mouse, touch-screen

The X Window System

The X.org project
Components of X
X modules
Kdrive (Micro X)

Building X

Selecting components
Cross-compiling
Installing X on the target

Running X

Configuring display and input devices
Fonts: bitmapped vs scaled
Anti-aliasing
Networked access to X servers
Testing and debugging common problems

Window Managers

The role of window manager: do you really need one?
Examples: twm, ICE, Matchbox

Writing Graphical Applications

Different layers, widget sets
Low-level libraries: xlib
Xt and the Athena widget set
The Motif widget set
The GTK+ widget set
The Qt widget set
Nano-X

Programming with Xlib

Description of Xlib
Example program using Xlib
What Xlib can and can’t do!

Programming with GTK+

GDK, Glib and GTK+
Using Glade to design application layout
Writing GTK+ applications in ‘C’
Other language bindings

Programming with Qt

Qt Objects
Event handling: signals and slots
Using Kdevelop for application design
Writing Qt programs in C++
Other language bindings

Living without X

Other ways to program graphical applications
Qt Embedded
GTK+ Direct

Course Overview

A three-day course, providing hands-on experience of configuring and programming graphical environments on Embedded Linux. Practical sessions use the Nokia 770 web pad.

Course Objectives:

After completing the course attendees will:

Understand how to include complex graphical interfaces in small memory embedded systems
Be able to cross-compile and load X on a typical target board
Understand the architecture of X, frame buffers and window managers
Have an overview of graphics programming libraries

Prerequisites: