Noob question on adding programs to Busybox
Pete Helgren
Pete at valadd.com
Wed Feb 10 17:02:33 UTC 2010
Background: I am not a *NIX person although I do have a few Linux
installations under my belt. I have had to compile Linux apps before
(Asterisk for example) but it has been done by following step by step
instructions (monkey see, monkey do) so this may be ridiculously simple
question for the regular Linux guy. I did read quite a bit last night
about how to compile Busybox and how to cross compile in Linux in
general but I didn't see a clear answer. I am primarily a Java
developer so I have been insulated from the C and C++ environments when
it comes to having to compile applications.
Here is the situation: I have a device that has Busybox installed
(BusyBox v1.1.3 (2007.10.23-16:18+0000) Built-in shell (ash) ). What is
missing in this particular build on this device is any kind of http
server. I want to be able to send a request to the device and have it
return a file to me. After looking at the options, it seems that an
http server, with maybe a cgi app that parses and returns the data might
be the easiest way to do it. I could probably do it with FTP as well.
The whole idea is to send a request for data, query the sqlite DB and
send back a file of the data.
So, finally, the question: Can I compile an application on Busybox and
have it work? Or, do I need to follow the cross compile instructions
and "build" this http server on a Linux distro and then move the
executable onto Busybox OR do I need to build a whole new Busybox
executable and include the http server? Since I am not 100% sure of how
Busybox is implemented, I am not sure of how best to approach getting an
http server into this currently embedded version of Busybox.
Links, tutorials, and step by step instructions are appreciated.
Pete
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