Understanding RK3588 and Linux 5.10 Under the Debugger

Understanding Under the Debugger

RK3588 and Linux 5.10

If twenty years ago, the hottest software and hardware combination was Windows + X86, then today the hottest combination is Linux + ARM. For the vast number of programmers engaged in technical work, now is a great time to learn this combination. However, with Linux source code exceeding 10 million lines and ARM technical manuals often exceeding thousands of pages, how can we conquer these two fortresses quickly in this era that pursues quick success?

This lecture takes a unique approach, selecting a representative computer system – the Youlan Codebook, to analyze the core components and key processes of the system using a tangible object to understand the code, and to understand the object through the code. The entire lecture is personally taught by Zhang Yinkui, the author of “Software Debugging”, making it easy to understand, with practical examples, exploring with the spirit of “gewu”, writing code, using the debugger, amplifying key details, and providing empirical evidence through what can be seen, avoiding generalizations and empty talk.

• Software engineers working on ARM platform development or researchers wishing to learn ARM architecture;

• Programmers, test engineers, or software security researchers developing Linux system software or application software.

Key Points: printk interesting stories, kernel second memory (diary), what is written in the kernel second memory, viewing RK3588’s central and local agencies from kernel second memory, adjusting kernel messages, panic and die, interpreting panic information.

Key Points: Characteristics of the two major spaces, Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, compiling and loading “Liu Laolao” (llaolao), writing code to communicate with RK3588, accessing system registers, reading RK3588’s temperature, switching RK3588’s devices.

Key Points: Various ARM hardware, issues that Linus cannot tolerate, advanced experiences of x86 and PC, device tree description, DTS, DTB, compilation methods, passing kernel command lines, Youlan’s device tree, case (kernel panic caused by improper command line parameters).

Key Points: Brief history of ARMv8, processor modes, privilege levels, processor extensions, system registers, accessing system registers, MRS and MSR instructions, accessing system registers in NDB, Youlan’s system software stack.

Key Points: The name and meaning of safety, ATF (ARM Trusted Firmware) code, special significance to CPU manufacturers, phased initialization, development mode of ATF code, U-Boot (two stages), overview of bootloader.