In this article at Linux Journal, Julian Rose provides technical and historical background of 'dsp_k', an open source real-time kernel and library for digital signal processors (DSPs). Rose also examines the use of open source software in deeply embedded systems . . .

” . . . The purpose of the dsp_K project is to provide developers with a small real-time kernel suitable for DSPs, serve as an illustration of embedded open-source software, propose and implement an EL/IX profile for DSPs and serve as an exercise in porting pieces of Linux code to DSPs.”

“At the lower-most layer of dsp_K, the BSP aims to provide a set of runtime services designed to be as simple as possible and still constitute a functional software platform, while affording some personality. Staying small also makes it easier to port the BSP to other DSPs, while currently there is only one version for the analog device's SHARC family. Why the SHARC? Well, simply because that was the hardware available when I started the project. Actually, the term BSP is a kind of a misnomer because there is no specific board support; rather, the software can run on various boards. It might help you to think of it as a chip (family) support package . . .”

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