Analyze and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of Linux and wince/Windows

I just saw someone discussing whether to learn Linux or wince. I just added an article to my favorites.ArticleFor details, refer...

In fact, learning is not important. Learning well is fundamental. I hope the following will help you make a decision.

1. Support for multiple hardware platforms

Due to the diversity of hardware platforms of embedded devices and the fast update of CPU chips, embedded operating systems must support commonly used embedded CPUs, such as x86, arm, MIPS, and PowerPC, and has good portability. You also need to support a wide range of external devices. Linux supports almost all of the above mainstream chips and is constantly being transplanted to new chips. In this regard, WinCE is obviously far behind.

2. occupy a small amount of hardware resources

Because most embedded systems are cost-sensitive, the processor speed is low, and the memory space is small, the embedded OS size is small and the speed is fast. The Linux architecture is flexible and easy to cut. It can be as small as 2 M Flash and 4 m Ram. Wince has higher requirements on resources.

3. highly customizable

Because different embedded applications have different requirements on the system, the embedded OS must be highly customizable and function modules can be conveniently added and reduced as needed. This is critical to the embedded field. Linux, because the graphics system is not in the kernel and supports the module mechanism, can add or remove features as needed. Its Peripheral tools have many options, because they can be freely modified.Source codeIs highly customizable. Windows and Windows cannot achieve this.

4. Real-time processing capability

Real-time applications are classified into two categories: hard real-time and Soft Real-time. The embedded OS needs to determine whether real-time applications are supported and which type of real-time applications are supported. The response time for the worst case scenario must be long. Real-time applications were not taken into account in the initial design of Linux and Windows. However, many real-time Linux projects have provided Linux with hard real-time and soft real-time processing capabilities, while RT-Linux and rtai are available in hard-time scenarios, in addition, 2.6, the core can be preemptible, enabling Linux to provide soft real-time processing capabilities. In addition, real-time Linux implementations such as timsys and montavista are also included. The advantages of the Linux free development mode are fully reflected. Although some third parties provide real-time functions similar to RT-Linux, Windows is rarely used in the real-time field because Microsoft does not provide such support and Windows reliability cannot meet the requirements. However, RT-Linux has been widely used by the US Aerospace department and the Indian military. There are also many successful cases in Real-Time Linux of monavista and timsys.

5. Powerful network functions

Nowadays, more and more embedded devices need to have network functions. This requires that the embedded OS supports common network protocols and reliable network functions. Linux's network functions have been improved several times, and their efficiency and functions are all outstanding. It has many network tools and supports almost all common network protocols. These make Linux popular among network devices. Many firewalls and low-end routers use Linux. However, I have never heard of windows or windows.

6. high security and reliability

Embedded devices often have high requirements on security and reliability, which requires that the embedded OS, as the basic software, has high security and high reliability. Such as the vro and vswitch of the backbone network. The reliability of Linux has been tested in practice and further developed to the high end, impacting the market of VxWorks and UNIX. In terms of security, Linux has very few viruses and many security enhancements. Some security enhancements in Linux have reached the B1 level (the Red Flag rfsos passed the National gb17859 Level 3, equivalent to the TCSEC B1 level ). Windows has a large number of viruses and vulnerabilities. Although Microsoft vigorously promotes that it has passed the CC standard eal4, it must be noted that, eal4 only shows how much windows meets its security goals. Obviously, it is more important to know what this goal is. In fact, it passes the eal4 level of CAPP and is still equivalent to TCSEC.
The reliability of the C2 and win2000 has been significantly improved compared with 98, but it is not enough to impact the high-end, and its security problems will greatly affect its reliability. These two are closely related, it cannot be discussed in isolation.

7. Complete embedded GUI and embedded browser

User-oriented embedded terminal devices, such as smart phone, all require the embedded OS to have sophisticated functions, rich embedded GUI controls, and support a powerful embedded browser. In this regard, WinCE has a complete solution, and Linux also has embedded browsers such as QT/Embedded GUI and opera, with many options.

8. Embedded Log File System with power-off protection.

These functions are available in both Linux and Windows.

9. provides a complete set of development tools.

There are many development tools in Linux, but they are not as easy as windows development tools. However, Windows development tools are not designed for the embedded field and are not fully functional.

10. Quick Start

The startup speed is similar to the two, but many embedded devices do not need a graphical interface.CodeAnd can be accelerated when the hardware is fixed. In this case, Linux is much faster than Windows or windows.

Through the above analysis, we can clearly see that Linux has obvious advantages over windows and windows in the embedded field. Because of this, embedded Linux is more widely used than wince/windows. The advantage of Wince is PC derivative products, such as Pocket PC and high-end PDA. But in many other embedded fields, WinCE is not suitable.

If it is for learning and fun, I select Linux. If there is a development team around me, select Linux.

If I am single-stick or have limited personnel, I can develop products as soon as possible and select wince.