Software Directory: Lineo RTXC 3.2

May 13, 2002

Lineo offers two versions of RTXC. Although RTXC 3.2 predates RTXC Quadros, it supports a wider range of processors, including those at the low end of the spectrum, such as the 8-bit Hitachi H8S and the Motorola HC12. RTXC Quadros provides a more...

William G. Wong

Quadros offers two versions of RTXC. Although RTXC 3.2 predates RTXC Quadros, it supports a wider range of processors, including those at the low end of the spectrum, such as the 8-bit Hitachi H8S and the Motorola HC12. RTXC Quadros provides a more advanced, modular architecture that integrates multiprocessor features and different stack configurations. Both have similar application programming interfaces (APIs) and work with RTXCNet, the networking module for RTXC. Designers should select RTXC Quadros if it handles the target platform, as its modular configuration makes enhancements and upgrades easier.

RTXC is written in C with a little assembler on the side. Its low execution overhead is designed for fast context switches with minimum latency.

Version 3.2 packs a lot into a small footprint. It also incorporates services like memory partitioning to compartmentalize and conserve memory use.

Quadros didn't reduce its toolset when it minimized RTXC's memory footprint. Rather, the SYSgen configuration utility has full kernel customization.

RTXCNet handles Ethernet, SLIP, and PP interfaces. It comes with a wide range of IP-based applications, including a Web server, DHCP server, and even network address translation (NAT) support for building a router. Services are optimized to conserve RAM and ROM.

Debugging is provided through RTXCbug. Though it runs as a task, it's typically idle, consuming no processor overhead. This feature can show the state of kernel objects and relationships to other objects.

RTXC 3.2CompanyQuadrosWeb sitewww.lineo.comArchitecture8-, 16-, and 32-bitProcessor familiesOver 20 total, including the Philips 8051XA, Hitachi H8S, PowerPC, ARMSchedulingPriority, time slicing, round robinMessagingYesServicesMemory management, timers, queues, semaphoresDevice driversYesFile systemYesMinimum footprint0.5 kbyteGraphicsNoneNetworkRTXCNetDebuggingRTXCbug, serial, JTAGTracingoneRoyaltiesoneSource codeProvidedLanguagesAssembler, C

About the Author

William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

I am Editor of Electronic Design focusing on embedded, software, and systems. As Senior Content Director, I also manage Microwaves & RF and I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, programmers, developers and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our template and send to me along with a signed release form.

Check out my blog, AltEmbedded on Electronic Design, as well as his latest articles on this site that are listed below.

You can visit my social media via these links:

I earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Computer Science from Rutgers University. I still do a bit of programming using everything from C and C++ to Rust and Ada/SPARK. I do a bit of PHP programming for Drupal websites. I have posted a few Drupal modules.

I still get a hand on software and electronic hardware. Some of this can be found on our Kit Close-Up video series. You can also see me on many of our TechXchange Talk videos. I am interested in a range of projects from robotics to artificial intelligence.