Homebrew on the PS3 from the Begining ?

**MicroNut** · November 12th, 2006, 11:23

Whatever OS it looks like it will have to be complied special for the PS3 Cell architecture.
Yellow Dog Linux is one.
And who knows how much the platform will be open to the OS.

**jimjamjahaa** · November 12th, 2006, 14:46

this is ideal news. we will see dual boot systems within weeks i think

the sony OS will probably be stored in a seperate memory store, so no one will mind having a fully patched un iso-able sony firmware, and then the option of booting in to linux for all your homebrew needs.

sweet

it wont be long before precompiled ps3 distros surface with beryl built in and fully optimised.

**MicroNut** · November 12th, 2006, 16:39

Yellow Dog Linux for PS3

Yellow Dog transforms PlayStation into home computer

**tito13kfm** · November 12th, 2006, 22:09

This is actually a very smart move on Sony and will help to REDUCE the piracy of their games.

Most "hackers" of previous generation consoles were mainly looking for a way of running unsigned code, ie. emulators, media players, and the like. It was pretty much a side effect that allowed copied games to run as well.

By providing a protected area where programmers can develop and run their own programs directly on the PS3 it gives them less incentive to break any kind of security and encryption on the system.

Although, the moment there is something developers want to do that is not allowed, the full push will be on and piracy will again be a side effect.

I'm hoping that the full power of the PS3 is available to program for and it is not some restricted RTE type atmosphere that only allows access to 1 of the cores or limited memory.

**tsaikimon** · November 13th, 2006, 10:02

the OS only has to be compatible with the PPC CPU architecture not compiled for the cell specifically.

**T-2000** · November 13th, 2006, 11:24

everytime a new system arrives all we read is will it emulate this will it emulate that, how many systems do u wanna play snes games on...lol a meaty console comes out and u wanna play old games, why not go to your local 2nd hand shop and buy an old snes etc.. ;-)

**pdotb** · November 13th, 2006, 15:25

The current Linux release does not enable direct access to the video hardware (or bluetooth-attached peripherals)

Lets you access the BLU-RAY with a restricted interface.

For graphics, it lets you write to a single or double-buffered 2D view of the screen which will be fine for many current Linux apps but not games requiring accelerated 3D.
(My interpretation of LinuxKernelOverview.html in the recently provided Sony documentation)

Looking forward to MAME etc. and doing my occaional office/email tasks.

I see the death knell for $1000 PCs if people can now get that power on Linux and simply switch to 'gaming mode' to play games.

I hope Sony or some ingenious programmer removes the graphics restriction, but I imagine it could encourage the development of Linux-based gaming at the expense of Sony's own development approach.

Time will tell.

The addition of a usable home office computer into the PS3 makes this seem pretty good value now. Intel et al might see a few problems ahead.

**mog** · November 13th, 2006, 17:59

Isn't this news at least a year old now?

I can't wait till when we get PS3s over here - only 4 months to go now!!

Atleast I can be sure a PS3 is going to cost more £ after waiting so long, than if I was to just import one now from Japan/US at current conversion rates...
That will be nice... *insert good sarcasm smiley here*

If only Britain was in BluRay Region A with US and Japan, but instead we are in stupid Region B.