I'd like to make a single board computer capable of booting Linux, with my low-tech garage tools (2 sided PCBs, reflow skillet, no plating through holes).
What's the simplest hardware design I could choose?
Are there any microcontrollers with enough onboard flash/RAM to run Linux/uCLinux?
Answer
I'd like to see this too, but my gut instinct is to say "maybe, but it's a lot of work". Even the smallest Linux distro is going to need around a megabyte of RAM to run. This means at least 30 or so additional pins for the RAM controller in the microcontroller, and a couple of big RAM chips.
One of the simplest architectures I know that has Linux for it is the Atmel AVR32 series of parts. The smallest, the AT32UC3A0128 comes in a relatively hacker-friendly 100-pin TQFP package. This is at least amenable to hand-soldering, unlike most of the OS-capable embedded microcontrollers that come in BGA packages. (the chips that have the little solder balls underneath them) You can get an idea as to the complexity of a circuit using that chip by examining the EVK1100 eval board.
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