# RTEMS

> real-time operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q1600588](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1600588)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTEMS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rtems

## Summary
RTEMS is a real-time operating system designed for multiprocessor systems. It's a Unix-like operating system that processes data with minimal delay, making it suitable for time-critical applications.

## Key Facts
- RTEMS stands for "Real-Time Executive for Multiprocessor Systems" or "Real-Time Operating System for Multiprocessor Systems"
- It's licensed under the GNU General Public License
- The current stable version is 5.1, released on August 26, 2020
- Version 4.11.3 was released on February 16, 2018
- Version 6 is available as a pre-release version
- It supports multiple platforms including ARM architecture, Nios II, Blackfin, MIPS, Motorola 68000 family, NXP ColdFire, PowerPC, H8 Family, and SuperH
- Joel Sherrill and Sebastian Huber are developers of RTEMS
- The official website is http://www.rtems.org
- It's available in multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, and Russian

## FAQs
### Q: What is RTEMS used for?
A: RTEMS is used in embedded systems and applications that require real-time processing with minimal delay. It's particularly suited for multiprocessor systems where deterministic timing is critical.

### Q: Is RTEMS free to use?
A: Yes, RTEMS is free software licensed under the GNU General Public License, which allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software.

### Q: What hardware platforms does RTEMS support?
A: RTEMS supports a wide range of hardware architectures including ARM, PowerPC, MIPS, Motorola 68000 family, NXP ColdFire, Nios II, Blackfin, H8 Family, and SuperH processors.

### Q: Who developed RTEMS?
A: RTEMS was developed by Joel Sherrill, with Sebastian Huber also being a notable contributor to the project.

### Q: How often is RTEMS updated?
A: RTEMS follows a regular release cycle, with version 5.1 being the current stable release (as of 2020) and version 6 available as a pre-release.

## Why It Matters
RTEMS matters because it provides a reliable, free real-time operating system solution for embedded systems and multiprocessor environments. Its Unix-like compatibility allows developers to leverage familiar programming paradigms while ensuring deterministic timing performance critical for safety-critical applications. The broad hardware support makes it versatile across different industries including aerospace, automotive, industrial automation, and telecommunications. By being open-source and freely available, RTEMS lowers barriers for developing real-time systems without licensing costs, fostering innovation in embedded computing.

## Notable For
- Being a Unix-like real-time operating system specifically designed for multiprocessor systems
- Supporting a wide variety of hardware architectures from ARM to PowerPC and beyond
- Maintaining a consistent release schedule with version 5.1 as the current stable release
- Being fully open-source under the GNU General Public License
- Having comprehensive international support with documentation available in multiple languages

## Body
### Overview
RTEMS (Real-Time Executive for Multiprocessor Systems) is a real-time operating system that behaves similarly to Unix systems. It's designed to process data as it comes in with minimal delay, making it suitable for time-critical applications.

### Licensing
RTEMS is distributed under the GNU General Public License, making it free software that can be used, modified, and distributed without licensing fees.

### Version History
- Version 4.11.3 was released on February 16, 2018
- Version 5.1 is the current stable version, released on August 26, 2020
- Version 6 is available as a pre-release version

### Supported Platforms
RTEMS supports a wide range of hardware architectures:
- ARM architecture
- Nios II
- Blackfin
- MIPS architecture
- Motorola 68000 family
- NXP ColdFire
- PowerPC
- H8 Family
- SuperH

### Development
The project was developed by Joel Sherrill, with Sebastian Huber being another notable contributor. The development is ongoing, with regular updates and new versions being released.

### Internationalization
RTEMS is available in multiple languages, including:
- English
- German (de)
- Spanish (es)
- French (fr)
- Italian (it)
- Japanese (ja)
- Korean (ko)
- Polish (pl)
- Portuguese (pt)
- Russian (ru)

### Online Presence
The official website for RTEMS is http://www.rtems.org, which serves as the primary resource for documentation, downloads, and community support.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/RTEMS/rtems/graphs/contributors)
2. [Source](https://devel.rtems.org/wiki/Release/4.11/4.11.3)
3. [RTEMS 5 Embedded Realtime Operating System](https://ftp.rtems.org/pub/rtems/releases/5/5.1/)
4. [Release — RTEMS Project](https://devel.rtems.org/wiki/Release)
5. [Supported Architectures - RTEMS Project](https://devel.rtems.org/wiki/TBR/UserManual/SupportedCPUs)
6. [x86_64 — RTEMS User Manual 5.1. 2020](https://ftp.rtems.org/pub/rtems/releases/5/5.1/docs/html/user/bsps/bsps-x86_64.html)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Quora