Developing application for linux

No.

Yes.

Host computer (most probably running Linux), target computer (running Linux), cross toolchain, editor, CVS, etc.

No.

You build an ELF executable (not an object file). The kernel knows absolutely nothing about your executable. You simply run that exe just like you would run 'date' or 'ls'.

True, you can make starting that executable be a part of an 'rc' script, which is started by the 'init' process, which is started by the kernel. But it's a long way from "kernel is configured to run after booting".

Cheers,

ELF executables are object files.

That depends on its name. If you name it 'init', then the kernel _does_ know about it.

Really? I thought there was a way to tell the kernel what program to run if you wanted to run someting other than /sbin/init.

Thanks guys. So this is what I understand. I can use Code Warrior to create an elf object. As I am using MPC875 as my CPU.

But I am still not clear on how to configure my kernel to start the application. ppbly I may sound very naive in asking this nut I am still not clear from the correspondence. Like how do I edit/modify the rc scripts. Some sort of readme or some links for starters might help.

With an editor?

Assuming your target is configured to run "init", you can simply add a line like this:

to your /etc/inittab.

Read about "init" and "normal" rc initialization here:

Cheers,

Well, here's what you find if you search Amazon.com for "embedded linux":

The first two (the O'Reilly book and Hollabaugh's book are both good. Rubini & Corbet is also a must if you have to support any custom hardware. The New Riders books is OK as well. The other one I haven't looked at.