"This paper introduces many new open source operating systems for the Internet of things. In the past decade, most new open source operating systems have shifted from the mobile market to the Internet of things market. This paper introduces many new open source operating systems for the Internet of things. Our previous article introduced the open source IOT framework, as well as Linux and open source development hardware for IOT and consumer smart home devices.
In addition to introducing the new embedded Linux distribution for the Internet of things, I also introduced several older lightweight distributions such as openwrt, which have ushered in a new life in this field. Although the Linux distribution is mainly aimed at gateways and hubs, the non Linux open source operating systems for the Internet of things have made the same rapid development. They can run on microcontroller units (MCU), usually for the edge devices of the Internet of things.
Keep in mind that almost all operating systems today claim to have some Internet of things connectivity, so this list is a little random. Most of the open source operating systems introduced in this paper meet the following attributes: less memory, high power efficiency, modular configurable communication stack, and provide strong support for specific wireless and sensor technologies. Some projects focus on the security of the Internet of things, and many non Linux operation projects focus on real-time determinism, which is sometimes a requirement of the industrial Internet of things.
I usually stay away from this kind of Linux distribution: it is listed as "lightweight", but it is still mainly implemented for desktop use or portable USB flash disk, not for peripherals. However, lightweight Linux distributions such as lxle or Linux Lite may be suitable for the Internet of things.
The choice of non Linux open source platform is more difficult. After all, most lightweight real-time operating systems can be used for the Internet of things. I focus on the main platform, or the platform that seems to bring the greatest hope for the Internet of things. Other potential candidates can be found on this open source real-time operating system website（ http://www.osrtos.com ）Found on.
This article does not mention windows 10 for IOT core. It is free for makers and supports alljoyn and iotivity, but it is not completely open source. There are also many commercial real-time operating systems that are big players in the field of the Internet of things, such as Micrium's µ C / OS.
Nine Linux based open source IOT distributions
1. Brillo - in the year after Google released Brillo, this lightweight Android based distribution has been increasingly sought after by embedded boards, such as Intel Edison and dragonboard 410C, and even computers on some modules. Brillo's future is closely related to Google's weave communication protocol, which it needs. Weave brings discovery, configuration and verification functions to Brillo. Brillo can run on devices with only 32MB of memory and 128MB of flash memory.
Related links: https://developers.google.com/brillo/
2. Huawei liteos - don't confuse Huawei's liteos with the open source UNIX variant. It is said that it is based on Linux, but it is indeed a very simplified implementation method. Liteos, announced more than a year ago, claims to be deployed as a 10KB kernel. Liteos is widely used, from MCU based devices to Android compatible application processing systems. This customizable operating system has many functions, such as zero configuration, automatic discovery, automatic networking, quick start and real-time operation. It provides a wide range of wireless support, including LTE and mesh networks. Liteos is delivered with Huawei's agile Internet of things solution, which drives narrowband Internet of things (NB IOT) solutions.
Related links: http://www.huawei.com/minisite/iot/en/liteos.html
3. Openwrt / Lede / lino / DD wrt - due to the upsurge of the Internet of things, the long-standing and network focused openwrt embedded Linux is making a comeback. Lightweight openwrt often appears on routers and MIPS based WiFi cards. Early derivative versions (such as DD wrt and linduino for Arduino) have recently appeared branch versions. The Linux embedded development environment (Lede) project promises more transparent governance and more stable release cycle.
Related links: https://openwrt.org
4. Ostro Linux - in August this year, after Intel chose to use the Intel Joule module (running on the latest quad core Lexus T5700 on-chip system), this yocto project based distribution became famous. Ostro Linux complies with iotivity, supports many wireless technologies, and provides a sensor framework. It attaches great importance to the security of the Internet of things and provides protection at the levels of operating system, devices, applications and data, including encryption and MAC. This release is included in the no peripherals and media (XT) versions.
Related links: https://ostroproject.org
5. Raspbian - there are other distributions for raspberry PI, which are more specialized for the Internet of things, but the rapidly maturing raspbian is still the best. Because it is the most popular release for DIY projects on the most widely used Internet of things platform, developers can seek help from many projects and tutorials. Because raspbian supports node red, a visual design tool for node JS, we don't think there is much reason to choose thingbox for RPI and Internet of things.
Related links: https://www.raspbian.org
6. Snappy Ubuntu core - this embedded version of Ubuntu core is also called Ubuntu core with snaps. It uses the snap package mechanism - canonical to separate it as a general Linux package format, so that a single binary package can run "on any Linux desktop, server, cloud or device". Snaps enables snappy Ubuntu core to provide transaction rollback, security updates, cloud support and application store platform. Snappy only needs a 600MHz processor and 128MB of memory, but it also needs 4GB of flash memory. It can run on PI and other embedded boards and appear on many devices, including ERLE copter UAV, Dell edge gateway, nextcloud box and limesdr.
Related links: https://developer.ubuntu.com/en/snappy/
7. Tizen - the embedded Linux stack hosted by the Linux foundation is mainly supported by Samsung, which has attracted little attention in the mobile market. It is widely used in Samsung's TVs and smart watches, including the new gear S3. It is also sporadically implemented in Samsung's cameras and consumer devices. Tizen can even run on raspberry PI. Samsung has begun to integrate tizen with its smartthings smart home system to control smartthings through Samsung TV. We can also expect it to enhance integration with Samsung's artik module and artik cloud. Artik comes with Fedora, but tizen 3.0 was recently ported with Ubuntu core.
Related links: https://www.tizen.org/ko?langredirect=1 ：
8. UClinux - the prestigious compact version of uClinux is the only Linux that can run on MCU, and can run on specific Cortex-M3, M4, M7 and other models. UClinux requires MCU built-in memory controller, and external DRAM chip can be used to meet memory requirements. Now uClinux has been incorporated into the mainline Linux kernel, thanks to the extensive wireless support in Linux. However, more novel MCU oriented operating systems such as mbed quickly fill the gap in wireless and are easier to configure. Emcraft is one of the biggest supporters of uClinux on MCU, providing many cortex-m-based modules.
Related links: http://www.uclinux.org
9. Yocto project - the yocto project of the Linux foundation is not a Linux distribution, but an open source collaborative project that provides developers with modules, tools and methods to build custom embedded stacks. Because you can customize the stack with minimal overhead, it is often used in the Internet of things. Yocto project forms the basis of most commercial embedded Linux distributions and is also part of projects such as ostro Linux and QT for device creation. QT is preparing a QT Lite technology for QT 5.8, which will optimize device creation for smaller IOT target devices.
Related links: https://www.yoctoproject.org
Nine non Linux open source IOT operating systems
1. Apache mynewt - open source, wireless enabled Apache mynewt is oriented to 32-bit MCU, developed by runtime and hosted by Apache Software Foundation. Modular Apache mynewt has wireless support, accurate configurability of concurrent connections, debugging functions and fine-grained power control. In May, runtime and Arduino SRL announced that they would provide Apache mynew, primo and star otoo SBC for Arduino SRL. This operating system also supports Arduino LLC cards, such as Arduino zero（ Recently, Arduino SRL and Arduino LLC reached a lawsuit mediation and announced plans to re join hands under Arduino holding company and Arduino Foundation).
Related links: http://mynewt.apache.org
2. Arm mbed - arm's operating system for the Internet of things is aimed at small, battery powered Internet of things endpoints. These endpoints run on Cortex-M MCU and may have only 8KB memory. They have appeared on BBC micro: bit SBC. Although it was initially semi proprietary, single threaded and lack of deterministic functions, it is now open source, using Apache 2.0 license and providing multithreading and real-time operating system support. Unlike many lightweight real-time operating systems, mbed was originally designed for wireless communication. Recently, it has added thread support. The operating system supports cloud services that can safely extract data through the mbed device connector. Earlier this year, the project released the wearable device reference design.
Related links: https://www.mbed.com/en/
3. Contiki - because only 10KB memory and 30KB flash memory are required, open source Contiki cannot be as compact as tiny OS or riot OS, nor can it provide real-time certainty like riot and other operating systems. However, the widely used Contiki provides extensive wireless network support, and the IPv6 stack is contributed by Cisco. The operating system provides a wide range of development tools, including dynamic modules that can be loaded into the cooja network simulator to debug the wireless network. Contiki claims to allocate memory efficiently.
Related links: http://www.contiki-os.org
4. FreeRTOS - FreeRTOS will soon be able to compete with Linux in the embedded development platform. It is especially suitable for the development of Internet of things terminal devices. FreeRTOS lacks Linux features such as device drivers, user accounts, and advanced network and memory management. However, it takes much less resources than Linux, not to mention that it also provides open source GPL licenses compared with mainstream real-time operating systems such as VxWorks. FreeRTOS can run on devices with less than 0.5kb memory and 5-10kb ROM, but it is more common to use it in combination with TCP / IP architecture. It is more like 24Kb memory and 60kb flash memory.
Related links: http://www.freertos.org
5. Fuchsia - Google's latest open source operating system partially revealed in August that it left more questions than answers. Fuchsia has nothing to do with Linux, but based on the LK distribution designed to be compatible with MCU oriented operating systems (such as FreeRTOS), many people speculate that it is an Internet of things operating system. However, fuchsia also supports mobile devices and laptops, so Google has great ambitions for this early-stage project.
Related links: https://github.com/fuchsia-mirror
6. Nuttx - a non restrictive, BSD licensed nuttx is mainly famous for this: it is the most common real-time operating system for open source UAVs, running on APM / ardupilot and Px4 UAV platforms, both of which are part of the dronecode platform. Nuttx is also widely used in other embedded systems with limited resources. Although it supports x86, cortex-a5 and - A8 platforms, this POSIX and ANSI based operating system is mainly aimed at Cortex-M MCU. Nuttx is fully preemptive, with fixed priority, polling and occasional scheduling. The operating system is known as "a compact Linux general-purpose operating system, but it greatly simplifies the functional features."
Related links: http://nuttx.org
7. Riot OS - riot OS, which has a history of 8 years, is famous for its efficient power use and extensive wireless support. The hardware requirement of Rios is 1.5kb memory and 5KB flash memory, which is almost as low as that of tiny OS. however
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