View source for Familiar Linux

{{Short description|Linux distribution for iPAQ machines and other PDAs}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = <!-- Name of program or distribution -->
| logo = <!-- Filename only: no wikilink, Image: or File: -->
| logo size = 
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| logo alt = 
| screenshot = FamiliarLinux_GPE_Screensot.png
| screenshot_alt = Familiar Linux with GPE
| caption = 
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| version of = <!-- For articles about releases of operating systems ONLY -->
| developer = <!-- Name of main developer or sponsor-->
| programmed in = 
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| working state = <!-- "Current", "Discontinued" (operating systems), or "No longer supported" (releases) -->
| source model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| released = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| discontinued = <!-- DON'T use this for articles about releases of operating systems. -->
| RTM date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} ONLY for articles about OS releases -->
| GA date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} ONLY for articles about OS releases -->
| latest release version = v0.8.4 /
| latest release date = March, 2007
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| repo = <!-- {{URL|https://example.com}} -->
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| language = <!-- Supported human languages (English, French, Italian, Arabic, ...) -->
| update model = <!-- APT, Windows Update, etc. -->
| package manager = <!-- dpkg, rpm, Windows installer, etc. -->
| supported platforms = <!-- [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]], [[Itanium]], [[ARM architecture|ARM]], etc. -->
| kernel type = <!-- Hybrid, Monolithic, Microkernel, Exokernel, Nanokernel, etc. -->
| userland = 
| ui = OPIE, [[GPE Palmtop Environment|GPE]]
| license = GNU GPL
| preceded by = 
| succeeded by = 
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20050207003346/http://familiar.handhelds.org/|familiar.handhelds.org}}
| support status = <!-- For articles about releases of operating systems ONLY -->
| other articles = 
}}
'''Familiar Linux''' is a discontinued [[Linux distribution]] for [[iPAQ]] devices and other personal digital assistants (PDAs),<ref>{{Cite book|title=Software configuration management : ICSE Workshops SCM 2001 and SCM 2003, Toronto, Canada, May 14-15, 2001 and Portland, OR, USA, May 9-10, 2003 : selected papers|date=2003|publisher=Springer|others=Bernhard Westfechtel, André van der Hoek, SCM|isbn=978-3-540-39195-1|location=Berlin|oclc=51975801}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Crossing design boundaries : proceedings of the 3rd Engineering & Product Design Education International Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 15-16 September, 2005|date=2005|publisher=Taylor & Francis|others=Paul Rodgers, E. K. Brodhurst, Duncan Hepburn, Design Society. Design Education Special Interest Group, Institution of Engineering Designers|isbn=0-415-39118-0|location=London|oclc=63766883}}</ref> intended as a replacement for [[Windows Embedded Compact|Windows CE]]. It can use OPIE or [[GPE Palmtop Environment]] as the graphical user interface.

== Technical details ==
It is loosely based on the [[Debian]] ARM distribution, but uses the ipkg package manager.<ref name=":0" /> It contained Python and XFree86.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-02-27|title=LinuxDevCenter.com: Linux on an iPAQ|url=http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/06/01/linux_ipaq.html|access-date=2021-04-25|website=[[O'Reilly Media]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050227154129/http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2001/06/01/linux_ipaq.html|archive-date=2005-02-27}}</ref>

== History ==
In May 2000, Alexander Guy took a kernel that had been worked on by Compaq programmers, built a complete Linux distribution around it, and released the first version of Familiar (v0.1).

The first version was released in May 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Pictures: Linux for mobile. A visual history|url=https://www.arnnet.com.au/slideshow/521891/pictures-linux-mobile-visual-history/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=[[ARNnet]]}}</ref>

It was developed as part of the Handhelds.org project.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=LWN.net weekly edition|url=https://static.lwn.net/2001/0607/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=[[LWN.net]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==
According to a 2004 review by IBM developerWorks, Familiar Linux needed more polish and "could gain mass acceptance if a [[Multi-booting|dual-boot]] procedure were made possible".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-12-15|title=Running Linux on an iPAQ|url=http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-ipaq.html?ca=dgr-lnxw04iPaq|access-date=2021-04-25|website=IBM developerWorks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215205932/http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-ipaq.html?ca=dgr-lnxw04iPaq|archive-date=2004-12-15}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20050207003346/http://familiar.handhelds.org/}}
*[http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=12287 Linux.com interview with the original author] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425185916/http://linux.omnipotent.net/article.php?article_id=12287 |date=2021-04-25 }}

{{Linux distributions}}

[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:ARM Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Discontinued Linux distributions]]
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