Karim Yaghmour, author of Building Embedded Linux Systems, has published an interesting opinion column at O'Reilly Network (the publisher of his book), in which he suggests that “Embedded Linux” doesn't really exist, other than within the “hype” fostered by “marketoids.”

“Embedded Linux is the stuff of glitzy announcements, hype, and other marketing mumbo jumbo,” writes Yaghmour, a strong advocate of open source software.

In support of his assertion of the non-existence of “Embedded Linux,” Yaghmour reports the results of a Google Groups search analysis comparing hits for the compound use of the words “embedded” and “Linux” vs. that of “Embedded Linux” (noting, incidentally, that the earliest use of “Embedded Linux” was in February 1993).

He further notes that around 1999 there was an “invasion” of “embedded Linux” companies, magazines, websites (who, us?), and other such hype. “The moment these companies entered the market, the term 'embedded Linux' lost all meaning. It became, as I said earlier, a meaningless mishmash; the stuff of marketoids,” asserts Yaghmour.

He then proceeds to describe the harm these opportunists have caused — for example, in his case, an automatic thought of “what's for sale?” comes in reaction to seeing or hearing the term “embedded Linux” — and concludes with two suggestions on how those words should be used and understood.

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