ThreadX
picokernel | |
---|---|
Default user interface | Embedded UI support (GUIX) |
License | MIT License |
Official website | threadx |
Eclipse ThreadX (formerly named Azure RTOS and ThreadX) is a highly deterministic, embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) programmed mostly in the language C.
Overview
ThreadX was initially developed and marketed by Express Logic of
Express Logic was purchased for an undisclosed sum by Microsoft on April 18, 2019 and renamed it to Azure RTOS.[3] On November 21, 2023, Microsoft announced Azure RTOS would be transitioning to an open source model under the stewardship of the Eclipse Foundation, and making the project available under the permissive MIT License.[4] With Eclipse Foundation as the new home, Azure RTOS was renamed to Eclipse ThreadX, or "ThreadX" in its short form.
The name ThreadX is derived from the
ThreadX supports multi-core processor environments via either asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP) or symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). Application thread isolation with memory management unit (MMU) or memory protection unit (MPU) memory protection is available with ThreadX Modules.
ThreadX has extensive safety certifications from Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV, English: Technical Inspection Association) and UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories) and is Motor Industry Software Reliability Association MISRA C compliant.
ThreadX is the foundation of Express Logic's X-Ware Internet of things (IoT) platform, which also includes embedded file system support (FileX), embedded UI support (GUIX), embedded Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) and cloud connectivity (NetX/NetX Duo), and Universal Serial Bus (USB) support (USBX). ThreadX has won high appraisal from developers and is a very popular RTOS.[5] As of 2017[update], according to marketing research firm VDC Research, the ThreadX RTOS has become one of the most popular RTOSes in the world, having been deployed in over 6.2 billion devices, including consumer electronics, medical devices, data networking applications, and SoCs.[6]
Supported platforms
- Analog Devices
- Blackfin
- CM4xx
- Precision Microcontrollers
- SHARC
- ULP Microcontrollers
- Andes
- RISC-V
- ARM
- ARM7
- ARM9
- ARM Cortex-A
- ARM Cortex-R
- ARM Cortex-M
- ARM Cortex-A 64-bit
- ARMv8M TrustZone
- Cadence
- Xtensa
- CEVA
- TeakLite-III
- eSi-RISC
- eSi-16x0
- eSi-32x0
- Infineon
- XMC1000
- XMC4000
- Intel
- Nios II
- Cyclone
- Arria 10
- x86
- Microchip
- AVR32
- PIC24
- dsPIC33
- PIC32
- SAM C-V
- SAM7
- SAM9
- SAMA5
- MIPS
- MIPS32 4Kx
- MIPS32 14Kx
- MIPS32 24Kx
- MIPS32 34Kx
- MIPS32 74Kx
- MIPS32 1004Kx
- interAptiv
- microAptiv
- proAptiv
- M-Class
- NXP
- ColdFire+/ColdFire
- i.MX
- Kinetis
- LPC
- PowerPC
- S32
- Renesas
- H8/300H
- RX
- RZ
- SH
- Synergy
- V850
- ST
- STM32F0
- STM32F1
- STM32F2
- STM32F3
- STM32F4
- STM32F7
- STM32H5
- STM32H7
- STM32L
- STM32U5
- STM32WB
- Silicon Labs
- Gecko
- Giant Gecko
- Giant Gecko S1
- Happy Gecko
- Jade Gecko
- Leopard Gecko
- Pearl Gecko
- Tiny Gecko
- Wonder Gecko
- Zero Gecko
- ARC
- ARC 600
- ARC 700
- ARC EM
- ARC HS
- Texas Instruments
- C674x
- C64x+
- Hercules
- MSP430
- SimpleLink MSP432
- Sitara
- Tiva-C
- Xilinx
- Microblaze
- Zynq-7000
- Zynq UltraScale+
History
ThreadX was first introduced in 1997. ThreadX 4 was introduced in 2001. ThreadX 5 was introduced in 2005, and is the latest version as of 2020[update].
FileX – the embedded file system for ThreadX was introduced in 1999.
NetX – the embedded TCP/IP networking stack for ThreadX was introduced in 2002.
USBX – the embedded USB support for ThreadX was introduced in 2004.
ThreadX SMP for SMP multi-core environments was introduced in 2009.
ThreadX Modules was introduced in 2011.
ThreadX achieved safety certifications for:
in 2014.GUIX – the embedded UI for ThreadX was introduced in 2014.
Express Logic was purchased for an undisclosed sum by Microsoft on April 18, 2019.[3]
Technology
ThreadX implements a priority-based, preemptive scheduling algorithm with a proprietary feature called preemption-threshold. The latter has been shown to provide greater granularity within critical sections, reduce context switches, and has been the subject of academic research on guaranteeing scheduling.[7]
ThreadX provides a unique construct called event chaining,
ThreadX also provides counting semaphores, mutexes with optional priority inheritance, event flags, message queues, software timers, fixed sized block memory, and variable sized block memory. All APIs in ThreadX that block on resources also have an optional timeout.
ThreadX offers multi-core processor support via either AMP or SMP. Application code isolation is available through ThreadX Modules component.
Major components
ThreadX RTOS components include:
- Embedded file system
- Embedded graphical user interface
- Embedded networking
- Embedded USB
- Safety certification
- Packaging
Embedded file system
FileX is the embedded file system for ThreadX. FileX supports
Embedded graphical user interface
GUIX is the embedded graphical user interface (GUI) for ThreadX. GUIX provides a 2D runtime system (environment) for embedded applications running ThreadX. GUIX supports multiple display devices with a variety of screen resolutions and color depths. Many predefined graphical widgets are available. A Windows WYSIWYG host tool called GUIX Studio automatically generates C code for GUIX to execute at runtime.
Embedded networking
NetX Duo is the embedded TCP/IP system for ThreadX. NetX Duo supports both
Embedded USB
USBX is the embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) system for ThreadX. USBX supports both host and device. Host controller support includes EHCI, OHCI, and proprietary USB host controllers. USBX also supports OTG. USBX class support includes Audio, Asix, CDC/ACM, CDC/ECM, DFU, GSER, HID, PIMA, Printer, Prolific, RNDIS, and Storage.
Safety certification
ThreadX (and FileX and NetX Duo) have been precertified by SGS-TÜV Saar to the following safety standards:
ThreadX (and FileX and NetX Duo) have been precertified by UL to the following safety standards: UL/
ThreadX has also been certified to
Packaging
As of 2017, ThreadX is packaged as part of X-Ware IoT Platform in full source code and with no runtime royalty payment.
Products using it
Some high-profile products using ThreadX range from small wearable devices, to
The Raspberry Pi line of single-board computers runs ThreadX as a binary blob on the graphics processing unit (GPU). This controls initial booting, which in turn is used to boot secondary operating systems such as Linux, and continues to operate in a more privileged role even after the boot process.[12]
See also
References
- ^ "Releases · eclipse-rtos/Threadx". GitHub.
- ^ Cole, Bernard; McConnel, Toni (September 3, 2010). "Bill Lamie: Story of a man and his real-time operating systems". Embedded. AspenCore.
- ^ a b Janakiram, MSV (April 21, 2019). "How Does The Express Logic Acquisition Help Microsoft and the IoT Ecosystem". Forbes.
- ^ "Microsoft Contributes Azure RTOS to Open Source". Microsoft. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ Carbone, John. "High Performance RTOS "ThreadX": Express Logic: Enabling Shorter Time to Market and Reduced Development Cost". Renesas.
- ^ "IoT & Embedded Operating Systems". VDC Research. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
- ^ Wang, Yun; Saksena, Manas. "Scheduling Fixed-Priority Tasks with Preemption Threshold" (PDF). Department of Computer Science. University of Utah.
- ^ "Event Chaining Enables Real-Time Systems to Respond to Multiple Real-Time Events More Efficient" (PDF). Express Logic.
- ^ "Thread Certified Products". Thread Group. Archived from the original on 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
- ^ "wolfSSL with Improved ThreadX/NetX Support". wolfSSL. 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
- ^ "NASA's "Deep Impact" employs embedded systems to score bullseye 80 million miles away". Military Embedded Systems.
- ^ nachoparker (February 2, 2019). "What's Wrong with the Raspberry Pi". Own Your Bits. Archived from the original on 2022-05-31. Retrieved 2024-03-09.