Embedded Development

A combination of the Linux kernel and GNU tools is fast becoming the default choice for embedded device development. The flexibility of the Linux kernel, support for a large number of platforms (specially ARM & MIPS), availability of code, tools and support are the factors that have always helped this cause.

With the release of the Linux kernel 2.6, this combination became stronger because of features like uCLinux, soft real time support, kernel pre-emption, high-resolution-timers, deterministic algorithms, low latencies etc. Also with the release of the GNU Compiler Collection 3.4.1, the GNU tool-set adds a lot of new functionalities targeted at the embedded market.

To leverage this incredible combination, it is important that the developer has a thorough understanding of the kernel as well as the associated tools and environments.

The embedded linux track will include talks that address these aspects of Linux and GNU tools. The talks will be delivered by experts from the embedded Linux world.

The track is targeted at embedded systems developers and will be planned in such a way that they can use this knowledge gained, productively at work.

Sample Topics

• Embedded Linux kernel

  • Linux on embedded h/w platforms like MIPS, ARM, PPC etc.

  • uCLinux - micro controller Linux

    • flat memory management and issues
    • design considerations.
  • porting Linux to un-supported hardware
  • embedded linux features like deterministic schedulers, kernel debugging, achieving low latencies, real-time system design & performance, high-resolution- timers, posix threads (NPTL), kernel-health monitoring etc.
  • scaling the Linux kernel to tiny devices.
  • Device drivers
  • Accessing memory devices

• GNU Tools for embedded systems

  • Cross platform compilers and tools (GCC 3.4.x)

  • GLibC

    • other flavours like uCLibc, dietlibc etc.

• Embedded Linux environments.

  • Linux distributions targeted at Embedded Linux. (embedded knoppix)
  • Busybox, tiny-login, ash
  • Embedded file-system environments.
  • Design issues : Memory constraints, platform architecture etc.

• Licensing issues

  • Licensing issues at using the above for commercial products and hardware.

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