Note: This installation process has been tested succesfully for installing latest version of TinyOS, that is 2.1.2, on 32-bit Ubuntu 12.04. I can not guarantee that this guide would work on older versions of Ubuntu but the chances are there will be no problem, unless your OS version is very old!

I have recently (24 Dec 2012) added a video on youtube that uses this article for performing the installation. If you have any problem try to see the video:

STEP 1:

You can skip this step if it is the first time you are installing TinyOS. If you have an older version of TinyOS (e.g. version 2.1.1) you have to remove both TinyOS and any older version of gcc-msp430 toolchain, because TinyOs 2.1.2 works best with gcc-msp430 compiler version 4.6.3 or higher.

To remove older version of TinyOS run the command below at terminal prompt (replace the version with your already installed version):

Similarly, to uninstall gcc-msp430 compiler, use the command below:

STEP 2:

Now you have to add the TinyOS package link from it's distributor (Stanford University) in your Ubuntu's package list file. To do so run the command below:

This will bring the text editor, now paste the code below into opened file, then save and close:

# TinyOS Repository
deb http://tinyos.stanford.edu/tinyos/dists/ubuntu lucid main

Now, you have to update and install the latest version of TinyOS by executing:

If you happen to see any error during execution of commands above, change the word 'lucid' in the file to your current Ubuntu release name for example this should be changed to:

# TinyOS Repository
deb http://tinyos.stanford.edu/tinyos/dists/ubuntu kramic main

So far the installation files of TinyOS has been copied into your system and some basic OS related configuration has been done. Now its time to do final configuration of TinyOS and then preparing required compilers.