The embedded Linux system is a rising star.
Even if you’re not familiar with embedded Linux systems, you are probably using one in one capacity or another.
Analysts estimate that two out of three webpages on the internet are generated by servers running embedded Linux systems. This is due to companies (as well as individuals) choosing Linux for their servers because it is a very secure operating system. You can also receive excellent support from the large community of users as well as businesses like SUSE, Red Hat and Canonical that offer commercial support.
Also running on Linux are Android phones, cameras, wearables, digital storage devices, personal video recorder and even car systems.
The benefits of using embedded Linux systems are substantial, especially in IoT development. By choosing embedded hardware carefully, organizations can use the same components throughout the network and not worry about the processor architecture. Then, they can focus on building a version of Linux that uses the drivers for the network and communications protocols you need and ensuring consistent versions across all the computers.
Another benefit of using Linux is the common development and debugging tools. For example, an organization that provides the development platforms, compilers, editors, debuggers and code analyzers can use the same tools across any Linux-supported architecture. Everything that is used on the desktop is also available for the embedded server and sensor interface and controller.
It’s also important to understand that embedded Linux systems use open source software. That means, as a worst-case scenario, the tools would need to be compiled, taking an additional hour or two to prepare the development platform.
The same is true for debuggers and code performance analyzers, so the cost of development software is the time invested in downloading and possibly building these tools. In comparison, purchasing these tools from third-party sources could cost tens of thousands of dollars.
With Linux, there is the additional benefit of consolidated development servers. Developers can consolidate all development and debugging on a single server or desktop system in the lab. This means that the code can be developed, cross-targeted for each different processor architecture and debugged by deploying the applications to their native target, all from one machine.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Embedded Linux Systems Overview, a 2-day course that gives participants a solid understanding of Linux kernel and libraries and utilities for embedded applications.
Learn about tools and techniques to develop an embedded Linux device. The use of Linux in embedded products has increased in recent years, with Linux now being used in many consumer electronic devices, medical devices, wearable gadgets and military applications.
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