# 335: Patching on the Surface of Mars

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2020-06-25
- Length: 1h 15m
- Episode: 335
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars

## Summary

Joel Sherrill, Director of R&D at OAR Corp and maintainer of the RTEMS open-source real-time operating system, explains why RTEMS is a robust choice for long-life embedded projects, particularly in aerospace and industrial automation. He details how RTEMS provides POSIX compliance, symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) support, and advanced scheduling algorithms like Rate Monotonic Analysis to ensure deterministic performance. Sherrill also discusses the importance of community-driven driver development, the ability to patch software on Mars rovers, and the trade-offs between using a full RTOS versus a simple big-loop architecture.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=6) Introduction: Joel Sherrill and RTEMS Overview
- [1:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=80) RTEMS Features: POSIX, SMP, and Space Adoption
- [4:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=268) Safety Certification and Requirements Traceability
- [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=660) Choosing an OS: Ecosystem, Support, and Longevity
- [15:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=941) Community Drivers and Shared Responsibility
- [22:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=1348) SMP, Priority Inheritance, and Rate Monotonic Scheduling
- [35:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=2124) Multi-threading Pitfalls and Debugging
- [46:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=2813) Middleware, POSIX APIs, and Standard Libraries
- [52:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=3139) Listener Questions: Best OS, Race Conditions, and Big Loops
- [1:00:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=3605) In-Place Upgrades and Patching on Mars
- [1:02:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=3731) Why Not Choose RTEMS? Limitations and Alternatives
- [1:09:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-06-25-335-patching-on-the-surface-of-mars#t=4188) Getting Started: Source Builder and Hello World

## 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)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- OAR Corp (company)
- RTEMS (other)
- NASA (company)
- European Space Agency (company)
- BeagleBone (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Zynq-7000 (product)
- Arty Board (product)
- Core Flight System (product)
- EPICS (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#009: Zephyr’s Meteoric Rise and What It Means for the Future of Embedded](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-05-27-009-zephyrs-meteoric-rise-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-embedded) (Coredump Sessions)
- [Zephyr with Luka Mustafa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-11-09-zephyr-with-luka-mustafa) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Modern Embedded Systems Programming with Miro Samek](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-01-18-modern-embedded-systems-programming-with-miro-samek) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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