Montavista Software is about to give Linux an exclusive function of exclusive software: the fast response time required to automatically control computers to the player.
This California's new company specializes in embedded computer devices such as DVD plaid machines and telecommunications equipment. But the company has never been able to bring Linux into an embedded market, which is to be "hard real-time) operating system to ensure a device that reacted within a specific and transient time.
Montavista plans to publish its hard instant scheme on the 12th, but has taken the lead in posting a set of prototype patches on the 8th. Montavista's programming designer Sven-Thorsten Dietrich is pointed out in a letter sent to the Linux core mailing list, which is hard-to-instant support for mobile phone communication, audio and video content play, and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver signals with the radar system. Illuminata analyst Gordon HAFF said that hard instant systems are usually necessary to match the electronics of life and death, such as the wing surface control of the aircraft computer system.
HAFF said that the hard instant system has its disadvantage: the average response time is slower than the traditional environment, and the ordinary operating system is usually enough, especially when there is a large amount of excessive processing space, which ensures that it will not bear the risk of danger. He pointed out: "Since the hardware becomes cheaper, the prepared hardware can replace the hard instant operating system in many cases."
Another person who doubt this is Linux creator and spirit leader Linus Torvalds. He said in an email visit: "There is almost no one to be hard, even the embedded device." Torvalds pointed out that adding this feature will make the operating system more complex and increase the burden of "blocked" program That is, the operating system ensures that different programs will not rob the same resource at the same time.
When asked if Montavista's software would be included in the main core, he said: "I personally think that its intrusion is too intrusive, at least at the current time point." But there is still a small part of it. Montavista has been striving for a number of supporters that the "pre-sale" program written by the company's designer is now part of the main core - not specified, just an option.
In addition to Montavista, entry can also choose a traditional embedded operating system manufacturer such as Wind River System and Green Hills Software. The former is the leader of embedded computers, has been avoiding Linux for many years, but it is now a partner of Red Hat. Famlabs sells a hybrid system that allows Linux to operate on a separate hardest basis.
From: ZDNet China
