Steven J. Vaughan Nichols, writing at [email protected] Partner, takes a look at the growing trend of using Linux as the operating system embedded within Information Appliances. Nichols surveys the main embedded OS alternatives (including those from Microsoft, Wind River, and Embedded Linux vendors), explains why Embedded Linux is gaining momentum, and gives some advice on how to select an Embedded Linux software… partner. Nichols writes . . .

“Tired of the Wintel desktop hegemony? Maybe it's time for you to branch out into the network appliance market, where embedded Linux is finding its way into scores of new products, and major players are busy gobbling up one another. Historically, embedded systems were niche offerings that targeted manufacturing systems, communications systems and other special-purpose hardware . . .”

“Today, however, embedded systems are moving into the mainstream as part of the appliance and mobile device rebellion. By 2002, there will be more than 55 million handheld and notebook-style information appliances, predicts International Data Corp. . . All of these appliances require embedded OSes.”

Of course, an operating system is useless without widespread developer support. Here, Linux stands to benefit because hundreds of thousands of programmers are familiar with C, C++, Python or PERL on Unix or Linux. These gurus can start writing embedded Linux code today.”

“Another plus for Linux is its flexibility. Applications written for one platform (say, a Pentium III with 64MB of RAM), can be easily transported to an embedded chip with 8MB of RAM. The same doesn't hold true for Microsoft's embedded alternatives, Windows CE and NT Embedded . . .”

” . . . our research suggests that Linux is a heavy favorite to win the embedded operating system wars . . . The challenge for you is to choose your development and implementation partners wisely . . . The name of the game with any embedded operating system is to make the most out of the least.”

“. . . Before placing your embedded bet, you need to decide exactly what it is that you want to accomplish and find a partner that can meet your needs.”

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