Interest in Embedded Linux Remains Low

burnin1965 writes "According to EE Times interest in embedded linux remains low. I was surprised to see their headline considering I just purchased a Sony TV which runs linux and I assisted my brother in setting up an Actiontec DSL modem which runs linux. A few years back I had only heard of devices that ran embedded linux and now that they are starting show up everywhere interest is low? The survey did bring up three issues which should be addressed by the embedded linux community, whether those issues are misconceptions or actual problems. 1) Incompatibility with software, applications, and drivers. 2) Performance or real time capability. And 3) support."

Comments

It's about economics

[Anonymous Coward]

If I'm going to make a million of something, I'm willing to spend a lot of money on engineering to save fifty cents per unit. I'm willing to spend the extra effort required to use Linux.

On the other hand, if I'm making ten units of something, engineering time is my largest expense. In that case, I don't particularly care about license fees or the cost of the tools, I just want to get the job done as fast as possible.

So, consumer goods will use Linux but most developers don't design those. Most developers work on projects that won't be produced in large numbers. Therefore most developers will continue not to use Linux.

Re:It's about economics

[ricklow]

You've got it exactly backwards. If you're going to make a million of something, you want the bill of materials cost to be as low as possible, whereas you aren't as worried about the non-recurring engineering. That's why Linux, with it's larger memory footprint, but lower development cost, is often non-competitive.

Look at the latest Linksys WRT54 router. They've abandoned Linux and gone to VxWorks, despite the huge up-front cost for WindRiver tools, but they can use half the memory chips. This is a big win on a large production run.

On a limited production item, you often can't afford commercial tools, because it will make the selling price of your product non-competitive. Just the price of one copy of the VxWorks tools will probably add about $20 to the BOM cost on a production run of 1,000.

1/3 of the market is huge

[bill_mcgonigle]

Only 17 percent of embedded systems designers are currently using embedded Linux, and 66 percent say they are either not interested in using it or do not expect to be using it anytime soon

So, reading this backwards, a third of embedded systems developers are interested in embedded Linux and/or expect to be using it soon.

Compared with where the market was five years ago this is huge. Of the other two thirds, a large percentage goes to TRON and probably VxWorks. And if you want vendor-provided qualified platforms and support, you can get that from the same folks who make VxWorks.

Surely a change in survey results from a year ago is something to be curious about but there's no indication it's a trend.

Re:GPL?

[gowen]

And you get bashed for trying to earn a living.

I think you mean "You get bashed for trying to earn a living off other people's work, without giving anything back."

The rules are simple : reciprocate or fuck off.