Linux-Powered Business Card: A Unique Embedded System

An embedded systems engineer shares the story of creating a unique business card that runs Linux. This innovative project combines affordability, functionality, and a touch of geeky fun.

In the quest for affordable Linux-capable computers, I delved into the world of obscure processors. The idea of creating a minimal Linux board in a business card form factor sparked my interest. While electronic business cards with various features exist, none run Linux.

The finished product is a complete, minimal ARM computer running customized Linux firmware built with Buildroot. It features a USB port that, when connected to a computer, boots in about 6 seconds. The card appears as a flash drive and a virtual serial port, allowing users to log into the card’s shell.

The flash drive contains a README file, a copy of my résumé, and some photography. The shell offers games, Unix classics like fortune and rogue, a small 2048 game, and a MicroPython interpreter. All this functionality is packed into an 8MB flash chip, with the bootloader taking up 256KB, the kernel 1.6MB, and the root filesystem 2.4MB. The card also includes a writable home directory, saved on the flash chip with proper wear leveling using UBI.

This project demonstrates the potential of small, affordable Linux systems and serves as a unique business card that doubles as a tech demo.

FAQ

1. What processor does the business card use?
The business card uses an ARM processor.

2. How long does it take for the business card to boot?
It takes about 6 seconds for the business card to boot.

3. What can you find on the flash drive of the business card?
The flash drive contains a README file, a copy of the creator’s résumé, and some photography.

4. What games and software are available on the business card’s shell?
The shell offers games, Unix classics like fortune and rogue, a small 2048 game, and a MicroPython interpreter.

5. How is the data stored on the business card?
The data is stored on an 8MB flash chip, with the bootloader taking up 256KB, the kernel 1.6MB, and the root filesystem 2.4MB. The writable home directory is also saved on the flash chip with proper wear leveling using UBI.