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FreeRTOS versus Linux

There are currently two operating systems that are often used in embedded systems. These are FreeRTOS and Linux.

In the mid-eighties I developed a real-time system for the 8031. One of the main problems was that I wanted tasks that had high priority but only got the CPU at a certain percentage. Such a task was the operating task for the user interface. A maximum of 20% of computing time should be used for this, while the rest was available for measurement technology.

Typical Task Flow in FreeRTOS Typical Task Flow in FreeRTOS

FreeRTOS enables such tasks and thus offers a real-time system with absolutely deterministic behavior. That's why I would definitely prefer FreeRTOS in an embedded system for process engineering software parts.

Although Linux is faster than Windows, it has fewer capabilities for implementing real-time structures. Constant temporal determinism is not always present in Linux and difficult to introduce.

For your information, you can find a document from the Internet in which the author comes to similar conclusions:
FreeRTOS or Linux?

Short Term Consulting Contracts

Addressing the Shortage of Skilled Engineers

Even if we do not reject long-term cooperation, we are happy to offer the processing of smaller development work. Such projects take between 50 and several hundred working hours.

Payment is made on an hourly basis and the service contract can be terminated by either party at any time. This has the advantage for you that you don't have to worry about a longer employment just because the project gets stuck.

Please see the 'Engineering' section listed below to find out what work this could be.

The rough template for such a service contract looks like this:
Short Term Contract (pdf)

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have immediately.

Recruitment companies are excluded from this offer!

Engineering

Software/Firmware Development and Consulting

  • Development of mobile phone software (iOS, Android Apps) for field device applications (Kotlin, Xamarin, Java, C++).
  • Development of sql database structures for the source code generation for parts of the firmware in embedded field devices (single source concept).
  • Development of simulations of a field devices on personal computers (80 % of source code sharing).
  • Integration of firmware components into field devices
    - Android support,
    - Linux support,
    - FreeRTOS support,
    - SD memory card access,
    - Bluetooth interface,
    - NFC interface,
    - WiFi interface,
    - HART classical interface (4..20 mA),
    - HART-IP interface (Ethernet-APL),
    - Modbus TCP IP interface and
    - USB interface.
  • Development of web server for field devices.
  • Documentation of software and firmware components.
  • Development of automated testing software and firmware.
  • Development of application software in C++, C#, Python, F#, Kotlin, Java, Visual Basic and VBA.
  • Review of Specifications and Documentations.

Current Projects

  • Development of reusable C++ source code for a
    HART master and a
    HART slave, implemented with FreeRTOS on a
    nRF52840 Development Kit based on an uart protocol and
    Ethernet-APL (HART-IP) interface.
  • Migration of the HART FrameAlyst (HartTools) to HART-IP.

Hart Tools 7.6 (Windows)

HART Protocol Analyzer with Integrated Test Client running on Windows with .Net 4.7.2

Key technologies of HartTools 7.6 Key technologies of HartTools 7.6
Walter Borst Walter Borst

Technologies

  • Android, Xamarin
  • File Systems
    (SD-Card)
  • Bluetooth
  • WiFi
  • NFC
  • Program Flash Handling
  • Data Flash Handling
  • Power Off/On Management
  • HART Protocol Communication
  • Fieldbus Technology, Modbus, Profibus
  • HTTP-Server, Communication Stacks, Frameworks, Device Simulation

  • C, C++, C#, Java, Python, F#, Kotlin, VB, VBA, Assembler

  • Windows, Linux, EmbOS, FreeRTOS
    MicroC/OS-II, QNX, VxWorks, Integrity OS

  • Single Source Concepts, Software-Generation, Code-Wizards

  • Tests: Requirements, Code Coverage, Conformance

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