Dmitry Grinberg has booted Debian Linux on a 4-bit intel microprocessor from 1971 – the first microprocessor in the world – the 4004. It is not fast, but it is a real Linux kernel with a Debian rootfs on a real board whose only CPU is a real Intel 4004 from the 1970s.
Dmitry set a record in 2012 by booting Linux on an 8-bit microcointroller (AVR). Linux (in emulation) on a MOS 6510 was done last year. This is a much older-style 8-bit CPU and thus definitely counts as lower-end than an AVR. So he chose the 4-bit 4004 as his next target.
After a lot of work and finding out there was incorrect historical documentation, Dmitry was successful – Linux booted in 4.76 DAYS. But it does boot and work.
Check out the detailed post on how it was done here and a video is also available (sped up in places):
Dmitry posts today that “A MAME developer got MAME to boot my linux-on-4004 project…in MAME!!!” (on Reddit)
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