Trustworthy Systems

Real-Time Programming and L4 Microkernels

Authors

Sergio Ruocco

NICTA
Sydney
Australia

Abstract

L4-embedded is a microkernel successfully deployed in mobile devices with soft real-time requirements that now faces the challenges of tightly integrated systems, where user interface, multimedia, OS, wireless protocols and even software-defined radios must run on a single CPU. This paper discusses the various aspects of real-time programming on L4-embedded, focusing on the issues caused by the extreme speed optimisations it inherited from its ancestors. We conclude that real-time programming on L4-embedded is facilitated by a number of design features unique to microkernels and L4, but a review of the tradeoffs between performance and predictability would ease priority-driven real-time programming.

BibTeX Entry

  @inproceedings{Ruocco_06,
    address          = {Dresden, DE},
    author           = {Sergio Ruocco},
    booktitle        = {Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Operating System Platforms for Embedded Real-Time Applications
                        (OSPERT)},
    month            = jul,
    paperurl         = {https://trustworthy.systems/publications/papers/Ruocco_06.pdf},
    title            = {{Real-Time Programming and L4 Microkernels}},
    year             = {2006}
  }

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