Upstream Linux
Upstream Linux refers to the official code that makes up the standard version of the Linux kernel. Upstream Linux has some, albeit minimal, support for the GameCube, and the Wii, however, this code is hardly maintained, and does not work particularly well. The vast majority of the code regarding the GameCube and Wii in the upstream Linux kernel is written by Albert "isobel" Herranz of the gc-linux team, and has largely only had the bare minimum amount of maintenance done to it since it was introduced.
Upstream Linux supports the following features of the Wii and GameCube:
- Starting the kernel
- Outputting debug logs to the USB Gecko, if attached, and if a small fix is applied
- Reading, and booting a distro, from the Wii's front SD Card slot
- Attempting (but failing) to use the Wii's internal Broadcom 4318 Wi-Fi
- GPIO on the Wii
Upstream Linux lacks the following features that Wii-Linux has:
- Support for the Wii and GameCube framebuffer
- Support for USB on the Wii
- Support for SDGeckos on the GameCube and Wii
- Support for GameCube controllers on the GameCube and Wii
- Support for Bluetooth on the Wii (until USB is added, and a small patch is applied to add the USB Device ID)
- Support for audio output on the GameCube and Wii
Upstream Linux has also started having trouble booting at all in the latest versions, but this may be resolved eventually.