OpenBSD ported to Palm handheld devices

I have not blogged for a while, so please allow me to geek out a little today. :)

I watch the OpenBSD source-changes mailing list from time to time, just to monitor what is coming up, so that we will be prepared since our all-in-one firewall, AccessEnforcer, is based on OpenBSD.

A few days ago, I noticed CVS commits for "palm." Hmm, do they mean that Palm? I downloaded the GENERIC kernel config file off the Palm directory and noticed comments like "Handspring Visor", so it does seem like it is really meant for (older) Palm devices.

Yesterday I noticed that an official OpenBSD for Palm page is up on the OpenBSD website.. complete with a photo showing four Palm devices running OpenBSD-current!

Here's why I'm pretty excited about this. As we all know, Palm has pretty much abandoned PalmOS and is now concentrating fully on their newer webOS-based devices like the Palm Pre. So I bet there are a lot of people out there with old PalmOS-based devices gathering dust somewhere in their homes and offices.

I personally own a Palm T|X and have owned a few older PalmOS devices before that, like the Handspring Visor. And when I was a research assistant during my college years, I wrote a document formatting system for PalmOS devices, so I have fond memories of Palm.

With OpenBSD ported to Palm, these old devices will have life again. And what better OS to run on it than OpenBSD. :)

So many questions remain...

• Can it run X?
  
• Will it recognize user input using handwriting recognition like PalmOS?
  
• Does this mean I can now compile OpenBSD kernels in my pocket?? :)
  

Either way, I am excited. Now I'll just need to remember where I kept my old Palm T|X...