RTOS course: Do You Really Need It? This Will Help You Decide!

What is an RTOS?

A real-time operating system is defined as a data processing system in which each task has a deadline to complete.: The use of a real-time operating system (RTOS) or a bare-metal scheduler is a popular topic of debate between embedded system developers. The supporters of bare metal dispute that they can use a combination of priority-based interrupts and timers to get the RTOS-equivalent routine with improved performance and memory footprint. An RTOS side stresses acceptance of scheduling and system integration, for starters. No matter which side of the dispute one takes, here are seven reasons why a developer may decide to start with an RTOS over a bare-metal scheduler.

Is RTOS still in need? HOW? Following points will help you decide.

Concurrency

Microcontroller-based systems typically only have a single processing core but a need to implement multiple tasks. In applications where tasks need to emerge to be executing at the same time or concurrently, the use of an RTOS makes sense. An RTOS training Course in Noida, Delhi NCR can have multiple tasks at the same time in memory and can switch between them based on events and priorities. A bare-metal scheduler could be used, but tasks in a bare-metal system usually perform one at a time and not concurrently.

Pre-emption

Pre-emption is the capability of an operating system to provisionally suspend a task in order to perform a higher-priority task. If the embedded software that is being developed requires the need to prioritize tasks and break off tasks that are presently running, an RTOS is the go-to operating system. The nature of the majority of RTOS systems is to establish which tasks should be executing at any given time based on the priority of the task and system conditions. A bare-metal scheduler can be developed that emulates this type of behaviour using priority-based interrupts, but the use of an RTOS is more apt for the situation.

RAM Availability

The amount of obtainable RAM on a microcontroller can be a big determining factor as to whether an RTOS or a bare-metal scheduler is used. Resource-constrained systems that have less than 4 kilobytes of RAM can be difficult to fit in memory due to the fact that each task has its own task control block and stack. A bare-metal system, on the other hand, typically has just the one stack and doesn't need the extra overhead required to keep track of the state of each system task. At least, microcontroller-based systems should have at least 4 kilobytes of RAM (preferably 8 kB) before going with an RTOS solution.

Accessible Flash

Since a developer should look at how much RAM is obtainable on a system before deciding to go with an RTOS, he or she should also look at how much Flash space is available. RTOS systems don't take up much Flash space, typically on the order of eight to 10 kB, but if the microcontroller only has 16 kB of Flash space, there really isn't to a large extent room left for the application code. If the microcontroller has at least 32 kB of Flash space, then the system is a good applicant for the use of an RTOS. Anything less and it might be time to dust off the bare-metal scheduler or upgrade the hardware.

Management Tools

One of the problems with using a bare-metal scheduler is that it lacks synchronization tools that are integrated by default in an RTOS. For example, an RTOS has Mutexes that can be used to defend a shared resource, and Semaphores that can be used to signal and coordinate tasks and message queues to transfer data between tasks. Properly designing and implementing these core software features isn't trivial, and adding them into a bare-metal scheduler from scratch will definitely inject bugs. If a system has multiple tasks and protected resources that necessitate synchronization, then the use of an RTOS is the wise decision.

Third-Party Software

One of the troubles facing many developers today is how to integrate third-party software stacks and tools into their embedded system. Few developers want to write a TCP/IP or USB stack. Many of the third-party stacks and tools that are available on the market are well-matched with various RTOSs. The use of an RTOS training course makes these mechanism plug-and-play contained by the software and can drastically speed up software development. The decision to use third-party software could be a major display that an RTOS should be used over a bare-metal scheduler.

Easy to Use

RTOS systems are readily obtainable for nearly every microcontroller and for near application conceivable. Whether a developer just desires to create a rapid prototype or build a robust safety-critical system, an RTOS exists that developers can leverage and get up and running fairly quickly. Creating tasks and utilizing RTOS tools is easy and very powerful, but developers need to beware that they properly analyze their tasks and think through their system design. An RTOS is a powerful tool, but improper use can result in tragic results.

Developers will certainly continue to argue the case of whether to use a bare-metal scheduler or an RTOS. To a few degrees the decision is based on the skills and experiences of the developers designing the system. In other cases, there is no question that an RTOS is the main solution. If one thing is clear, software developers need to appreciate the pros and cons of each type of solution and how to suitably implement a solution in either scenario.

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