Interest in Embedded Linux
This is an interesting set of numbers related to use of Linux and interest in Linux for embedded systems. Very much out of line with what I’ve seen however, so I’m left wondering somewhat what could cause that skew. The idea that came most quickly to mind for me was that folks doing embedded Linux development simply exist outside of the normal support and professional circles that a typical embedded systems programmer does. “Support” when using Linux typically doesn’t look like support when using commercial offerings. The Linux folks tend to be pretty highly involved in online forums and have a high degree of visibility into the development process of linux, and many tend to engage with the system in a way that isn’t possible for commercial offerings. The whole process/discipline changes, and the techniques used by the previous generation just don’t apply any more for most cases. On the hardware end the practices have definitely changed. The lower cost and greater availability of programmable logic means the development and debugging process requires a different set of skills. Same thing on the software end.
I know when I was doing embedded systems work using Linux we spent a hell of a lot of time digging through mailing lists and discussion forums, and not very much time on the phone with support or reading magazines. The best resource as a whole was the Linux Kernel Mailing List itself, and the best site was LinuxDevices.com. Sounds like maybe that’s still true. I expect Linux to be pretty disruptive to the embedded systems market, and I guess this helps illustrate one of the traits of market disruption in general: even when the attacker is winning out, people inside the market find ways to convince themselves that the existing technology is winning.
