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Embedded Linux Applications: An Overview

By Darrick Addison
2005-04-30

Summary
The Linux operating system has a very bright future in the area of embedded applications for anything from Internet appliances to dedicated control systems. Roughly 95% of all newly manufactured microcomputer chips are used for embedded applications. The power, reliability, flexibility, and scalability of Linux, combined with its support for a multitude of microprocessor architectures, hardware devices, graphics support, and communications protocols have established Linux as an increasingly popular software platform for a vast array of projects and products.

Because Linux is openly and freely available in source form, many variations and configurations of Linux and its supporting software components have evolved to meet the diverse needs of the markets and applications to which Linux is being adapted. There are small footprint versions and real-time enhanced versions. Despite the origins of Linux as a PC architecture operating system, there are now ports to numerous non-x86 CPUs, with and without memory management units, including PowerPC, ARM, MIPS, 68K, and even microcontrollers. But look out, there's more coming in the near future for many other Information Technology (IT) domains!



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First published by IBM DeveloperWorks
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