CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available [LWN.net]

CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available

Posted Feb 16, 2011 22:02 UTC (Wed) by job (guest, #670)
In reply to: CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available by nhasan
Parent article: CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available

Why are these software distributions called ROMs? As far as I can understand, there is no ROM involved at all. To reflash a ROM is a contradiction in terms.

Why not call it "distribution" like with regular computers? Even "operating system" or just "software" would be fine.

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CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available

Posted Feb 16, 2011 22:19 UTC (Wed) by foom (subscriber, #14868) [Link] (2 responses)

Because the terminology hasn't changed even though the technology has.

Originally you'd put software onto an ROM. Then people invented PROM and EPROM (erasable programmable read-only-memory...already we've gotten confused terminology here, although it makes some sense, because you need a UV light to erase the thing, and generally you need a high voltage to program it), then an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only-memory...). And often the EEPROM wasn't rewritable without a special programming device being attached. Flash is a form of EEPROM, and now the programming circuitry is always part of the device.

So...yes, there's a contradiction in terms, but it's long-standing, and came about over time. And so, the image you flash to an embedded device is called a ROM, because a long time ago, you would have stored it in ROM. Language is like that. :)

CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available

Posted Feb 16, 2011 22:56 UTC (Wed) by job (guest, #670) [Link] (1 responses)

I disagree. "Firmware" is the accepted term for most embedded software. "Have you upgraded the ROM in those disks / that router / your phone yet?" sounds strange.

CyanogenMod 7 release candidates available

Posted Feb 17, 2011 1:48 UTC (Thu) by pabs (subscriber, #43278) [Link]

"Firmware" is such a bullshit term for mobile operating systems. They have much more in common with "distributions" or "software" than the traditional definition of "firmware". I guess my objection to this is kinda like the change in the term "hacker", idiotic to resist since it is too late, the word has changed meaning.