FreeRTOS
FreeRTOS is a real-time operating system (RTOS) kernel for embedded devices, designed to be small, portable, and scalable. It provides task scheduling, inter-task communication, and resource management for microcontrollers and small processors, enabling deterministic and reliable performance in time-critical applications. It is widely used in IoT devices, automotive systems, and industrial automation.
Developers should learn FreeRTOS when building embedded systems that require real-time responsiveness, such as IoT sensors, medical devices, or automotive control units, where tasks must execute within strict timing constraints. It is essential for projects on resource-constrained hardware like ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, as it offers a lightweight and free alternative to proprietary RTOS solutions, with a large community and extensive documentation.