Best Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) for eXtremeDB

VxWorks®, a leading real-time operating platform in the industry, provides all the performance, reliability, safety and security capabilities you need for the most critical infrastructure's embedded computing systems. VxWorks is a preemptive, deterministic RTOS that prioritizes real-time embedded applications. It has low latency and minimaljitter. VxWorks has many security features that address the evolving security threats connected devices face at every stage, from boot-up to operation to data transfer to powered off. VxWorks has been certified to IEC 61508, ISO 26262, and DO-178C safety standards. VxWorks is built on an extensible, future-proof architecture that allows you to quickly respond to changing market demands, customer needs, technological advancements, and preserves your investment.

Developed in collaboration with top chip manufacturers over a span of 15 years, FreeRTOS is now downloaded approximately every 170 seconds and stands as a top-tier real-time operating system (RTOS) tailored for microcontrollers and small microprocessors. Available at no cost under the MIT open source license, FreeRTOS encompasses a kernel along with an expanding collection of IoT libraries that cater to various industries. Prioritizing reliability and user-friendliness, FreeRTOS is renowned for its proven durability, minimal footprint, and extensive device compatibility, making it the go-to standard for microcontroller and small microprocessor applications among leading global enterprises. With a wealth of pre-configured demos and IoT reference integrations readily available, users can easily set up their projects without any hassle. This streamlined process allows for rapid downloading, compiling, and quicker market entry. Furthermore, the ecosystem of partners offers a diverse range of options, including both community-driven contributions and professional support, ensuring that users have access to the resources they need for success. As technology continues to evolve, FreeRTOS remains committed to adapting and enhancing its offerings to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.

embOS stands as a priority-driven real-time operating system (RTOS) that serves as a robust foundation for embedding applications, with ongoing development since its inception in 1992. It supports all major processor architectures, compilers, and development environments, having found its way into billions of devices across diverse sectors. Engineers have consistently favored embOS in the embedded market due to its reliability and user-friendly nature. The system ensures 100% deterministic real-time performance for all types of embedded devices, making it a trusted choice. Highly portable and fully source-compatible across different platforms, embOS allows for straightforward application migration between various cores. Developers can create tasks with ease and facilitate secure communication among them through mechanisms such as semaphores, mailboxes, and events. Furthermore, embOS offers a free version for non-commercial applications, such as educational and evaluative purposes, which comes without any technical restrictions. This accessibility encourages experimentation and innovation in the field of embedded systems.

LynxOS has been utilized in countless embedded devices, demonstrating dependable performance for over three decades in various safety and security-sensitive markets. This operating system offers a proven method for running applications within a Unix-like environment, where a unified kernel manages all resources and application services, making it particularly effective for hardware designs that were developed before the advent of virtualization. We aim to ensure our customers purchase only what is necessary for their specific needs. While real-time operating systems (RTOS) can deliver significant advantages, they are not essential for every embedded system configuration. For a more extensive overview of our resources related to RTOS, we invite you to explore our Embedded Systems Learning Center, which provides valuable information to assist you in making informed software purchasing choices as you design or enhance your system and evaluate potential real-time platform vendors. Moreover, this center is a great resource to help you understand the trade-offs and benefits associated with various embedded system approaches.

Since its inception in 1980, QNX has been the choice of thousands of enterprises seeking to implement real-time operating systems that deliver an optimal blend of performance, security, and reliability for their mission-critical operations. Central to QNX's innovation is the QNX Neutrino® Real-time Operating System (RTOS), which is a comprehensive solution that facilitates the development of next-generation products across various sectors where dependability is paramount, such as automotive, healthcare devices, robotics, transportation, and industrial embedded environments. Thanks to its microkernel architecture, QNX ensures that a failure in one component does not disrupt the operation of others or compromise the kernel, as the malfunctioning part can be simply halted and restarted without negatively impacting the overall system. The QNX Neutrino RTOS stands out by providing the determinism unique to real-time operating systems, employing methods like adaptive partitioning to ensure that essential processes receive the necessary processing cycles to perform their tasks promptly, all while sustaining the performance expectations of intricate embedded systems. This combination of features makes QNX Neutrino RTOS a preferred choice for developers looking to create robust and resilient applications. As technology continues to evolve, the adaptability of QNX's offerings ensures that they remain at the forefront of real-time operating system solutions.

Deos™, developed by DDC-I, is a safety-critical real-time operating system (RTOS) that has been rigorously verified according to DO-178C/ED-12C Design Assurance Level A (DAL A) standards specifically for avionics applications. This RTOS supports ARINC 653 APEX and rate monotonic scheduling (RMS), and it is designed to meet the FACE Safety Base Profile requirements. Since its initial verification by Transport Canada in 1998, it has been a trusted solution in the aviation industry, with its certification allowing it to operate in tens of thousands of aircraft. Over the past two decades, Deos has adapted and evolved to incorporate new processors and features, demonstrating its flexibility and resilience. It has also undergone successful audits by a range of global certification authorities, including the FAA, ENAC, JAA, EASA, and CAAC, as well as by designated engineering representatives from various airframe and avionics suppliers, ensuring its continued compliance with industry standards. Its proven track record and ongoing development make it a pivotal component in modern aviation safety systems.