There has been an unprecedented adoption of embedded Linux over the past several years. Many factors have driven this adoption. Since Linux is an open system that is readily available from many different suppliers, developers have access to the source code at no cost, and there are no royalty fees for incorporating Linux into their products. This, of course, sharply contrasts proprietary software alternatives. With the rapid growth in the popularity of Linux as an open multi-vendor system, there is a growing base of software, both open source and licensed products, available under Linux, which is helping to reduce the engineers’ development efforts. In comparison to other proprietary RTOSs, Linux supports a wider variety of hardware devices, ranging from large chassis to smaller form factor PC/104 boards. The semiconductor industry, led by Intel, is also supporting Linux to provide out-of-the-box software support for new devices, which can be freely distributed as open source.
The ever-increasing support for Linux offers many compelling benefits for using the OS in embedded development. Today, embedded developers often find themselves locked into proprietary solutions, and dependent on the product plans, and even survival, of a specific vendor. Additionally, the source code is often times unavailable or expensive. So when developers run into any problems, the vendor’s responsiveness, or lack thereof, can lead to painful product schedule slippages. On the other hand, free access to Linux source can help developers track down problems and optimize interactions with the operating system. At the same time, there is an abundance of open source and commercial software product resources available on the World Wide Web, including middleware, tools, and device drivers. Additionally, there is an active and helpful developer community.
With all of these benefits, developers of embedded middleware and applications software are now focusing on the need for standards to continue moving forward with Linux adoption. While Linux distributions from different vendors are highly compatible since they are all derived from the same kernel, embedded vendors or developers often leave out unneeded portions or add features specific to embedded needs. Thus, in the absence of formal standards, the vendor of an embedded Linux software product would have to verify compatibility with each separate embedded Linux system.
The Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC) is playing an important role in the formulation and acceptance of industry-wide Linux standards. Standardization of embedded Linux is a key area of focus for the ELC. The ELC represents all the major players in embedded Linux, including vendors of embedded Linux distributions, manufacturers of consumer products, semiconductor vendors, and developers of middleware and applications. As such, it has both the credibility and the expertise to lead this activity. The recently released ELC Platform Specification (ELCPS) version 1.0 covers the APIs for the core operating system services, and ongoing work is addressing test suites and certification guidelines.
Another interesting development in the area of embedded Linux standards is the recent formulation of the CE Linux Forum (CELF). The CELF is focusing on the establishment and promotion of embedded Linux for consumer electronics products and further strengthens the technology industry’s commitment to implementing embedded Linux across a variety of devices.
The market applicability of Linux is also being extended to cover areas that have traditionally been the domain of proprietary solutions, thanks in part to commercial products such as LynuxWorks’ LynxOS, which supports the Linux software interfaces. With the growing momentum of Linux in the server markets, we will also see many integrated networked systems based on Linux, from servers to consumer devices in the home, automobile, and workplace, all with common middleware software stacks.
So where does the industry go from here? Some vendors of proprietary operating systems will undoubtedly continue to resist Linux and open source forever, but Linux is an irresistible force and continues to gain market share. On the other hand, proprietary solutions also have a legitimate role to play in the market and therefore will continue to coexist with Linux. In fact, this coexistence will provide users with more choices and will allow them to select the best solutions for their problems.
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Dr. Inder M. Singh is the CEO and chairman of LynuxWorks and board chairman and president for the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC).
For further information, contact:
Dr. Inder Singh
CEO & Chairman, LynuxWorks
Chairman, Embedded Linux Consortium
855 Branham Lane East
San Jose, CA 95138-1018
Tel.: 408-979-3900
E-mail: isingh@lnxw.com
Web site: www.lynuxworks.com
