Lineo has announced the release of version 0.46 of BusyBox, the popular “swiss army knife” utility suite for embedded Linux systems. The update fixes several bugs, provides improved portability kernel versions (2.0, 2.2, and 2.4), sports a completely reworked 'grep' and 'sed', and provides several other new features of value to emdedded system designers.

About BusyBox

BusyBox includes the functions of many common UNIX utilities within a single small executable. It thereby provides a fairly complete command environment for small or embedded systems, allowing embedded system developers to minimize hardware costs while maintaining a reasonable degree of functionality.

BusyBox has been written with size-optimization and limited resources in mind. The utility's modular architecture also makes it practical to include or exclude specific commands or features at compile time. Systems designers can thereby tune the functionality to the requirements and resources of the specific embedded Linux system. Then, just add a kernel and an editor.

BusyBox is included within Lineo's Embedix Linux distribution, as well as across a wide array of distributions and products including: MontaVista's HardHat Linux, Debian boot floppies project, Linux Router Project, Stormix Installer, Trinux, tinynet, and is even included within the Kerbango Internet Radio.

BusyBox is a freely distributed open source project, licensed under the GPL. Full details on BusyBox are available at opensource.lineo.com/.

BusyBox is currently maintained by (Erik Andersen) and its on-going development is sponsored by Lineo.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.