OS influence on power consumption
Power consumption of an embedded system may be influenced in software in general, but selection of an operating system can be key.
What is “real time”?
The post clarifies the technical meaning of “real time” for embedded systems and contrasts it with the colloquial sense of immediacy. It presents a precise definition: a real-time system’s correctness depends on both logical results and the time at which those results are produced, so missing timing constraints constitutes failure. The article emphasizes determinism — low variance in operation timing — as the key property of real-time systems, and contrasts classic RTOS behavior with general-purpose Linux’s higher timing variance. It also notes that raw CPU overprovisioning can mask nondeterminism in some designs, but is not always practical, reinforcing that real time means predictable timing sufficient for the application, not simply “fast.”
Understanding Yocto Project Layers: A Modular Approach to Embedded Systems Development
Managing metadata across embedded Linux builds gets messy fast, so the Yocto Project uses layers to keep things modular and reusable. This post walks through inspecting active layers with bitbake-layers, controlling overrides with BBFILE_PRIORITY, and creating a meta-yocto-splash-img layer that uses a .bbappend to replace psplash. It finishes by showing how to verify the custom splash screen in QEMU so you can test safely before deploying to hardware.
Five Embedded Linux Topics for Newbies !
Are you an embedded systems enthusiast looking to broaden your horizons with embedded Linux? explore those 5 topics.
BusyBox; The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux
In this article we cover the BusyBox, how it's designed to be optimized for embedded targets, and how to configure and build it in different ways, we also covered the license and limitation, which led to the development of ToyBox, I hope you enjoyed the article, please leave a comment for any correction or suggestions.
How Embedded Linux is used in Spacecrafts !
This article dives into the application of Linux in spacecraft, examining the challenges it poses and proposing potential solutions. Real-life examples will be discussed, while also addressing the drawbacks of employing Linux in safety-critical missions.
Open-Source Licenses Made Easy with Buildroot and Yocto for Embedded Linux
In this article I will try to explain what are the copyrights/copyleft, what are the popular opensource software licenses, and how to make sure that your Embedded Linux system complies with them using popular build systems ; Buildroot or YOCTO projec
Getting Started with (Apache) NuttX RTOS - Part 1
NuttX RTOS is used in many products from companies like Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung, Google/Fitbit, WildernessLabs and many other companis. So, probably you are already using NuttX even without knowing it, like the you was using Linux on your TV, WiFi router more than 10 years ago and didn't know too! Today you will have the chance to discover a little bit of this fantastic Linux-like RTOS! Are you ready? So, let's get started!
Libgpiod - Toggling GPIOs The Right Way In Embedded Linux
Accessing GPIOs through sysfs is simple but fragile, causing race conditions when multiple userspace processes touch the same line. This post explains libgpiod, introduced in Linux 4.8, and shows concise Python examples on a Toradex Verdin iMX8M Plus for requesting lines, tagging the consumer, using active_low flags, and reading or driving values. Learn why libgpiod provides safer, atomic GPIO handling.
Peripheral Interaction Without a Linux Device Driver Using Spidev
Kernel-space drivers are not always necessary; many SPI peripherals can be handled from userspace using spidev. This post shows how to expose an SPI device through the device tree and kernel, wire a Bosch BMP388 to a Toradex Apalis iMX8 Ixora board, and implement a C userspace app that uses ioctl to read the chip ID. Practical tips on SPI settings and logic-analyzer validation are included.
How Embedded Linux is used in Spacecrafts !
This article dives into the application of Linux in spacecraft, examining the challenges it poses and proposing potential solutions. Real-life examples will be discussed, while also addressing the drawbacks of employing Linux in safety-critical missions.
Understanding Yocto Project Layers: A Modular Approach to Embedded Systems Development
Managing metadata across embedded Linux builds gets messy fast, so the Yocto Project uses layers to keep things modular and reusable. This post walks through inspecting active layers with bitbake-layers, controlling overrides with BBFILE_PRIORITY, and creating a meta-yocto-splash-img layer that uses a .bbappend to replace psplash. It finishes by showing how to verify the custom splash screen in QEMU so you can test safely before deploying to hardware.
Getting Started with (Apache) NuttX RTOS - Part 1
NuttX RTOS is used in many products from companies like Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung, Google/Fitbit, WildernessLabs and many other companis. So, probably you are already using NuttX even without knowing it, like the you was using Linux on your TV, WiFi router more than 10 years ago and didn't know too! Today you will have the chance to discover a little bit of this fantastic Linux-like RTOS! Are you ready? So, let's get started!
Examining The Stack For Fun And Profit
Stack bloat can hide in short initialization paths, and this post walks through finding it with hands-on debugging. The author builds a tiny test program and uses gdb plus custom stack-helper scripts to scan, watch, and walk the stack. That process reveals getaddrinfo pulling in glibc DNS code that allocates large local buffers and uses alloca and PLT resolution, consuming roughly 11KB of stack.
BusyBox; The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux
In this article we cover the BusyBox, how it's designed to be optimized for embedded targets, and how to configure and build it in different ways, we also covered the license and limitation, which led to the development of ToyBox, I hope you enjoyed the article, please leave a comment for any correction or suggestions.
Libgpiod - Toggling GPIOs The Right Way In Embedded Linux
Accessing GPIOs through sysfs is simple but fragile, causing race conditions when multiple userspace processes touch the same line. This post explains libgpiod, introduced in Linux 4.8, and shows concise Python examples on a Toradex Verdin iMX8M Plus for requesting lines, tagging the consumer, using active_low flags, and reading or driving values. Learn why libgpiod provides safer, atomic GPIO handling.
How to Give Persistent Names To USB-Serial Devices on Ubuntu 14.04
When your dock reshuffles ttyUSB assignments, Tayyar shows how to bind USB-serial devices to persistent names on Ubuntu 14.04. The post walks through using dmesg and udevadm to locate unique attributes like KERNELS and ATTRS{serial}, creating /etc/udev/rules.d entries with NAME and SYMLINK, and applying rules with udevadm trigger. It includes common pitfalls and quick fixes to get minicom talking to the right port.
Using the Beaglebone PRU to achieve realtime at low cost
Fabien Le Mentec shows how the BeagleBone Black's PRU coprocessors can run hard realtime control loops, removing the need for an FPGA or dedicated microcontroller. He walks through Linux setup, device tree enabling, assembler and loader tools, and a timer example that reads ADCs and drives PWM from PRU code. The post highlights community SDKs and a recent TI Code Composer Studio option for C-based PRU development.
An overview of Linux Boot Process for Embedded Systems
Booting Linux on embedded hardware collapses PC boot stages into a single bootloader, and understanding the early steps helps troubleshoot low-level failures. Kunal Singh breaks down the sequence from the bootstrap firmware and primary/secondary bootloaders through zImage decompression, MMU and page table setup, start_kernel, and the initrd pivot to the root filesystem. Practical focus favors ARM examples.
Absolute Beginner's Guide To Getting Started With Raspberry Pi
Getting started with Raspberry Pi can feel overwhelming. This guide strips the noise and shows the simplest path from unboxing to a working desktop. It recommends buying a preloaded NOOBS microSD to avoid imaging hassles, lists exact parts and suppliers, and walks through booting, recovery, and making a backup. If you want embedded electronics it also lists starter parts and ESD safety tips.
Using the Beaglebone PRU to achieve realtime at low cost
Fabien Le Mentec shows how the BeagleBone Black's PRU coprocessors can run hard realtime control loops, removing the need for an FPGA or dedicated microcontroller. He walks through Linux setup, device tree enabling, assembler and loader tools, and a timer example that reads ADCs and drives PWM from PRU code. The post highlights community SDKs and a recent TI Code Composer Studio option for C-based PRU development.
Using the C language to program the am335x PRU
Assembly-language PRU development is tedious and error prone, so Fabien Le Mentec shows how to use TI's PRU C toolchain to simplify the workflow. He walks through installing the CGT package, integrating the compiler with a modified prussdrv loader to honor the _c_int00 start symbol, and provides a BeagleBone Black example with build scripts and sources on GitHub. The post also covers inline assembly constraints and code-size tradeoffs.
An overview of Linux Boot Process for Embedded Systems
Booting Linux on embedded hardware collapses PC boot stages into a single bootloader, and understanding the early steps helps troubleshoot low-level failures. Kunal Singh breaks down the sequence from the bootstrap firmware and primary/secondary bootloaders through zImage decompression, MMU and page table setup, start_kernel, and the initrd pivot to the root filesystem. Practical focus favors ARM examples.
Absolute Beginner's Guide To Getting Started With Raspberry Pi
Getting started with Raspberry Pi can feel overwhelming. This guide strips the noise and shows the simplest path from unboxing to a working desktop. It recommends buying a preloaded NOOBS microSD to avoid imaging hassles, lists exact parts and suppliers, and walks through booting, recovery, and making a backup. If you want embedded electronics it also lists starter parts and ESD safety tips.
How Embedded Linux is used in Spacecrafts !
This article dives into the application of Linux in spacecraft, examining the challenges it poses and proposing potential solutions. Real-life examples will be discussed, while also addressing the drawbacks of employing Linux in safety-critical missions.
Interfacing LINUX with microcontrollers
Fabien presents a practical pattern: put Internet- facing logic on a Linux board and keep time-critical I/O on a microcontroller, using a Raspberry Pi and a Teensy 3.0. He introduces MASL, a reusable userspace library that hides master-slave details and shows how to use userspace SPI, sysfs GPIO and epoll for programming, reset and event-driven signaling with working code examples.
How to Give Persistent Names To USB-Serial Devices on Ubuntu 14.04
When your dock reshuffles ttyUSB assignments, Tayyar shows how to bind USB-serial devices to persistent names on Ubuntu 14.04. The post walks through using dmesg and udevadm to locate unique attributes like KERNELS and ATTRS{serial}, creating /etc/udev/rules.d entries with NAME and SYMLINK, and applying rules with udevadm trigger. It includes common pitfalls and quick fixes to get minicom talking to the right port.
Getting Started with (Apache) NuttX RTOS - Part 1
NuttX RTOS is used in many products from companies like Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung, Google/Fitbit, WildernessLabs and many other companis. So, probably you are already using NuttX even without knowing it, like the you was using Linux on your TV, WiFi router more than 10 years ago and didn't know too! Today you will have the chance to discover a little bit of this fantastic Linux-like RTOS! Are you ready? So, let's get started!
Linux Kernel Development - Part 1: Hello Kernel!
Skip userland and run code inside the kernel with a tiny "Hello Kernel" module that prints messages on load and unload. This introduction walks through required headers, the init and exit hooks, MODULE_* metadata, a kernel-friendly Makefile, and the basic workflow to build, insmod, rmmod and inspect messages with dmesg. It’s a hands-on first step into Linux kernel module development.
Examining The Stack For Fun And Profit
Stack bloat can hide in short initialization paths, and this post walks through finding it with hands-on debugging. The author builds a tiny test program and uses gdb plus custom stack-helper scripts to scan, watch, and walk the stack. That process reveals getaddrinfo pulling in glibc DNS code that allocates large local buffers and uses alloca and PLT resolution, consuming roughly 11KB of stack.
