Linux for Embedded and Real-Time Applications (Embedded Technology) [Paperback]

Doug Abbott (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0750675462 | ISBN-13: 978-0750675468 | Publication Date: March 25, 2003

In this applications-oriented reference, Doug Abbott shows how to put Linux to work in embedded and real-time applications. Among the topics Abbott discusses include memory management, device drivers, interrupt handling, kernel instrumentation, boatloaders, embedded networking, inter-task communications, periodic vs. "one shot" timing, POSIX threads, hardware abstraction layers, and program debugging. Abbott uses numerous real-world examples to show how implement a variety of embedded applications using Linux. Abbott discusses the strengths and weaknesses for embedded applications of different implementations of Linux, and he also examines the different real-time extensions for Linux. This book incorporates many programming exercises with solutions. All code listings are provided on the accompanying CD-ROM, as well as an electronic version of the text.

*Fully describes the use of Linux operating system for embedded and real-time applications
*Covers advanced topics such as device drivers, kernel implementation, POSIX threads
*The CD accompanying the book includes an electronic version of the book as well as related software tools and code listings

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Applications-oriented reference that shows how to put Linux to work in embedded and real-time applications!

About the Author

Doug Abbott is the principal of Intellimetrix, a consulting firm in Silver City, NM, specializing in hardware and software for industrial and scientific data acquisition and embedded product applications. Among his past and pre-sent clients are Agilent Technologies, Tektronix, Sandia National Laboratory and numerous smaller high-tech com-panies in Silicon Valley. Mr. Abbott has over thirty years experience in various aspects of computer hardware and software design and has been an independent consultant for the past fifteen years. Prior to founding Intellimetrix, he managed software de-velopment for DSP Technology, Inc, a leading supplier of high-speed instrumentation. Doug is also a popular instructor and seminar leader, who teaches classes in PC technology and real-time program-ming for University of California Berkeley Extension. He has taught the techniques of real-time programming and multi-tasking operating systems to hundreds of professional engineers. These classes can also be customized and made available for on-site presentation. Mr. Abbott received an MSEE degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Newnes (March 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750675462
• ISBN-13: 978-0750675468
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,711,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No Depth, June 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Linux for Embedded and Real-Time Applications (Embedded Technology) (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping for an in depth look at using Linux for real-time. The table of contents would lead you to believe that this is the case.

Instead I found that it covered this topic only at a very high level. It might be good for an introduction to this topic, but there is very little depth here. For example, the chapter on Linux and Real-time is only 5 pages long! While the description of configuring BlueCat Linux (seems pretty off-topic to me) is 14 pages.

Unless you're a newbie to this topic, don't bother.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money, February 18, 2005

By 

scout3801 (Hilo, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Linux for Embedded and Real-Time Applications (Embedded Technology) (Paperback)

This book is VERY light on content (it's a pretty small book, 193 pages for the primary material). If you just look at the table of contents, you can get more depth in a couple hours of googling.

It just isn't a very useful book. It has nothing to offer a programmer with any level of experience with Linux or embedded systems, and it doesn't really educate the guy who's new to those subjects. It's more like a collection of superficial magazine articles.

The amount of real-time covered is really minimal. It touches on defining real-time computing, then has a (short and fairly useless) chapter on RTAI that doesn't do anything.

Go with Yaghmour's "Building Embedded Linux Systems", it's a MUCH better book, and is probably cheaper.

4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to Embedded Linux, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Linux for Embedded and Real-Time Applications (Embedded Technology) (Paperback)

This book is easy to read, and a good place to *START* for Embedded Linux. The organization of the chapters probably makes more sense once you're done reading it. It contains an excellent introduction to RTOS, multi-tasking, and relevant Linux programming concepts. The book is not intended as a complete guide to Embedded Linux or Real-Time issues, but rather helps the reader get started with an example using inexpensive hardware to drive a real embedded application. Important Embedded Linux concepts are covered including (remote) debugging, kernel modules, device drivers, and the available extensions to Linux for enabling an embedded and soft/firm real-time environment. Linux is not ready for hard real-time applications, but it's on the radar (which is why WindRiver is starting to support Linux based tools). I think this is a good first book for Embedded Linux in order to avoid getting lost in the wealth of other information available. I think I would like to see more/some real-world architectural based examples added to the book/CD. The book is not filled with useless pages of source code listings. If this book were to try and cover all real-time and Embedded Linux concepts and issues, it would be 1000 pages! A good book to start with!