This blog is written by Roy Jamil, Embedded Systems Training Engineer, Ac6.
On June 20, 2024, Ac6 hosted the first Zephyr Project meetup in Paris, France. This event brought together enthusiasts, developers, and industry leaders to discuss and explore the latest developments in the Zephyr RTOS. NXP, co-organized the meetup and provided attendees with FRDM MCXN947 boards, allowing participants to delve into practical applications using Zephyr.
Key Highlights
The meetup featured a series of presentations that covered various aspects of Zephyr’s capabilities, use cases, and ongoing developments. Below are some of the key presentations from the event:
Porting Platform Accelerator from FreeRTOS to Zephyr
This session, presented by Guido Roncarolo from NXP, focused on the porting of Platform Accelerator, a Java-based container solution developed by NXP partner MicroEJ, from FreeRTOS to Zephyr. The presentation underscored the advantages of Zephyr over other RTOS options and shared valuable insights gained during the porting process. Guido highlighted Zephyr’s modular architecture, which simplifies the porting process and enhances scalability across different hardware platforms. The session also demonstrated how Zephyr’s extensive test infrastructure ensures consistent and scalable testing, making it a robust choice for industrial applications. Click here to download the slides .
LLEXT: Industrial & Open-Source Crossover
Cédric Lescop from Schneider Electric introduced LLEXT, a cutting-edge subsystem for Zephyr designed to manage linkable and loadable extensions. Beginning with an industrial need, the presentation walked through the new Zephyr functionality. LLEXT is a new subsystem that provides the ability to load and execute an ELF file at runtime without re-flashing the base firmware, allowing for dynamic firmware updates and runtime behavior. This mechanism has the potential to revolutionize firmware updates and runtime management, offering a flexible solution for industrial applications where modularity and adaptability are crucial. Click here to download the slides.
User Mode in Zephyr: Explained in Simple Words
This presentation focused on Zephyr’s user mode, a feature that enhances system security by restricting access to critical resources and ensuring that user threads operate within predefined memory boundaries. The session emphasized the importance of user mode in building secure and reliable applications. Click here to download the slides.
Community engagement
After the presentations, the meetup transitioned into a networking session, which became a highlight of the event. Attendees from various backgrounds had the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss potential collaborations. The informal setting fostered an environment of open dialogue, where participants could share their experiences with Zephyr, and explore the challenges and opportunities within the project.
Conclusion
The first Zephyr Project meetup in France was a resounding success, fostering a sense of community among French developers. The event not only showcased the latest innovations within the Zephyr ecosystem but also laid the groundwork for future collaborations and meetups. With the continued support from NXP and other industry leaders, the Zephyr community in France is poised for growth and innovation.
Stay tuned for upcoming events and further developments in the Zephyr Project. If you missed this meetup, be sure to join us next time to stay at the forefront of RTOS advancements!
If you want to learn more about Zephyr, check out the comprehensive Zephyr RTOS training provided by Ac6.
Stay Connected
To stay updated on future events, project developments, and community initiatives, subscribe to the Zephyr quarterly newsletter or connect with us on @ZephyrIoT, Zephyr Project LinkedIn or the Zephyr Discord Channel to talk with community and TSC members.