Embedded Linux is the use of a Linux operating system in embedded computer systems such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants, media players and other consumer electronics devices, networking equipment, machine control, industrial automation, navigation equipment and medical instruments. According to survey conducted by Venture Development Corporation, Linux was used by 18% of embedded engineers.

Unlike desktop and server versions of Linux, embedded versions of Linux are designed for devices with relatively limited resources, such as cell phones and set-top boxes. Due to concerns such as cost and size, embedded devices usually have much less RAM and secondary storage than desktop computers, and are likely to use flash memory instead of a hard drive. Since embedded devices serve specific rather than general purposes, developers optimize their embedded Linux distributions to target specific hardware configurations and usage situations. These optimizations can include reducing the number of device drivers and software applications, and modifying the Linux kernel to be a real-time operating system.

Instead of a full suite of desktop software applications, embedded Linux systems often use a small set of free software utilities.

The advantages of embedded Linux over other embedded operating systems include no royalties or licensing fees, a stable kernel, a support base that is not restricted to the employees of a single software company, and the ability to modify and redistribute the source code.

Source: Wikipedia.org: Embedded Linux

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