# 307: Big While Loop

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-10-24
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 307
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/307-big-while-loop

## Summary

Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the decision to use a real-time operating system (RTOS) on microcontrollers versus bare-metal programming. They define an RTOS as an application framework that simplifies task management, memory handling, and inter-thread communication, contrasting it with the 'big while loop' approach. The hosts outline specific scenarios where an RTOS is beneficial, such as handling TCP/IP, Bluetooth, complex displays, and file systems, while also addressing common concurrency issues like priority inversion, race conditions, and non-reentrancy.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=7) Introduction and Patreon Updates
- [5:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=313) RTOS Landscape and Host Experience
- [10:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=643) RTOS as an Application Framework
- [14:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=878) When to Use an RTOS vs Bare Metal
- [25:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=1501) Concurrency Problems: Priority Inversion and Race Conditions
- [35:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=2106) Defining Real-Time and Memory Protection
- [42:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop#t=2554) RTOS Ecosystems, Bootloaders, and Project Ideas

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- FreeRTOS (product)
- ThreadX (product)
- VxWorks (product)
- Green Hills (company)
- LynxOS (product)
- PikeOS (product)
- μC/OS (product)
- TI DSP-BIOS (product)
- Nordic BLE System (product)
- Pumpkin Salvo (product)
- Embedded (product)
- Linux (product)
- BusyBox (product)
- LWIP (product)
- InterWorking Labs (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Real Time Operating Systems with Brian Amos](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-03-14-real-time-operating-systems-with-brian-amos) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 4](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-07-06-the-spark-gap-episode-4) (The Spark Gap)
- [The episode formerly known as ℔](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-08-24-the-episode-formerly-known-as) (Oxide and Friends)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-06-16-the-spark-gap-episode-1) (The Spark Gap)
- [Building Firmware and Hardware for Trade Shows with Mike Szczys](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-03-06-building-firmware-and-hardware-for-trade-shows-with-mike-szczys) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-10-24-307-big-while-loop. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.