: additional source for this section
Early days Prior to becoming the de-facto standard for microprocessor-based devices, a Linux distribution was created for the
Linux Router Project, with the intent of transforming PCs to routers. === Introduction of
μClinux === Starting in the late 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century, the introduction of
μClinux enabled ports to a large variety of
microprocessors, especially those without a
memory management unit (NOMMU). Linux is also used as an alternative to using a
proprietary operating system and its associated
toolchain.
Introduction of BusyBox The introduction of
BusyBox in 1999 enabled packaging of critical tools in an embedded system, with a minimal footprint. === The
ARM-
Linux synergy ===
ARM processors are prevalent in many embedded devices, due to their low costs, low power consumption, and low heat generation. The open source nature, the flexibility, and the stability of Linux contributes to its widespread adoption to ARM devices.
Development toolchains The development of the
GNU cross-compiler facilitated the adoption of Linux embedded to many processors. ===
Android === In 2008, Android 1.0 was released, based on the Linux kernel.
Android, a Linux-kernel-based operating system acquired and extended by
Google and introduced in 2008, has become a highly competitive platform for
smartphones and
tablets. In time, Android would become the most successful Linux embedded distribution. This is particularly relevant for
safety critical applications and systems. The original Linux kernel was not suitable for real-time tasks due to its non-deterministic behavior Early attempts to provide real-time support, such as
RTAI were based on a real-time kernel alongside the standard kernel. In 2005, the
PREEMPT_RT project was initiated to provide a patch to the Linux kernel. In 2024, the
PREEMPT_RT patch was fully merged into the Linux kernel for supported architectures. ===
IoT === The open source nature and security features of Linux have contributed to its prevalence in
devices on the edge and
IoT systems. Correspondingly, the demand for the real-time capabilities described in the previous subsection, is driven by the proliferation of IoT devices.
Containerization The emerging technologies of the
fourth industrial revolution have driven further enhancements to the Linux kernel, notably the adoption of
containerization. ==Devices coverage==