From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Bart Veer To: ecos-announce@sourceware.cygnus.com Subject: EL/IX press release Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 08:29:00 -0000 Message-id: <199909271526.QAA24208@sheesh.cygnus.co.uk> X-SW-Source: 1999/msg00003.html CYGNUS ANNOUNCES EMBEDDED LINUX OFFERING; PRE-EMPTS LINUX FRAGMENTATION New EL/IX API Enables Developers to Extend Linux into Embedded Computing Environments EMBEDDED SYSTEMS CONFERENCE, San Jose, CA, September 27, 1999 - Cygnus Solutions, the leader in open source software, today announced a major step to pre-empt the fragmentation of embedded Linux in the embedded computing segment. Cygnus introduced the EL/IX[tm] Application Programming Interface (API), an open source, configurable API and development environment for all pervasive computing platforms such as net-centric appliances and infrastructure systems. EL/IX allows developers to develop Linux software or embedded software on a desktop PC, and then deploy this software across embedded devices running Linux or Cygnus' eCos[tm], a small, configurable open source operating system. As Internet connectivity fuels the demand for embedded Linux in new computing devices such as personal digital assistants, set-top boxes, routers and telecom switches, Cygnus is taking a leadership role in establishing standards to enable application scalability and portability. Establishing this software layer in a standard fashion is critical to improving the efficiency of software development as applications are deployed into today's pervasive, net-centric devices. As has been validated by the desktop PC environment, portability and standardization are essential for the proliferation of applications on a common platform. "Standards are extremely important for a community-developed operating environment such as Linux," said Dan Kusnetzky, director, Operating Environments and Serverware, International Data Corporation. "This is doubly true for software for personal productivity and Internet appliances being developed by a number of companies today. By establishing a common, open API and working with members of the Linux community, Cygnus is making it possible for embedded software companies to build applications, which can serve a broader array of customer requirements without resorting to special, one-off techniques. This would lower their overall development costs and improve their time to market." Cygnus will offer the EL/IX API with a software development environment based on Cygnus GNUPro that makes it possible to produce and validate software for any Linux based computing appliance. EL/IX is designed to extend across Linux, from today's desktop solution into embedded Linux environments ranging from Internet appliances to network routers and telecom switches. The EL/IX API supports the needs of real-time (1) developers, who will be able to develop embedded applications that run on Linux (without real-time guarantees) or EL/IX compliant RTOSs (Real Time Operating Systems), such as eCos, with real-time response and/or reduced hardware requirements. "Pervasive computing continues to drive powerful microprocessors into an increasing number of non-PC centric devices. This shift is amplified by the adoption of the Internet and by the momentum behind open source software," said Alex Daly, president and CEO, Cygnus Solutions. "With the EL/IX API, companies delivering products to this heterogeneous computing environment can now develop to an open standard and take advantage of the growing base of Linux software." "An embedded Linux solution requires a (software tools) perspective that focuses on the right configuration and development tools to enable Linux to become embedded Linux," said Dr. Jerry Krasner, Research Editor, Electronic Market Forecasters. "Cygnus' role in embedded computing, with its emerging real-time operating system, eCos, and the widely used GNU tools for both embedded and Linux development qualifies it to deliver an API that will work both for Linux as an embedded operating system as well as other real-time operating systems." Scalable Embedded Software Unlike current, customized versions of embedded Linux that target specific vertical markets and run the risk of fragmentation (as happened to Unix), Cygnus is offering an open source, POSIX-based approach that supports all Linux distributions. The EL/IX API is supported by an open development environment that meets the requirements of desktop, embedded Linux, and real-time developers alike. By providing developers a common set of development tools, a critical element for successful embedded development, Cygnus makes it possible to use the EL/IX API with any major Linux distribution to build properly configured versions of Linux that are small enough to meet high end embedded requirements. For deeply embedded requirements, developers can also use the EL/IX API for eCos, the open source, high configurable, royalty free, embedded Cygnus operating system. Cygnus Meets the Needs of the Embedded Industry with EL/IX "Linux is becoming an established operating system for Internet-connected appliances," said Dave Dannenberg, director of platform software and architecture within Intel's Applied Computing Products Division. "We are pleased with Cygnus' level of commitment to leading Linux into the embedded community as they demonstrate development tools that maximize the performance of Intel's processors while creating an API that enables a common embedded development platform." "Cygnus further demonstrates its leadership in providing an open source POSIX API framework, EL/IX, to help structure the diverse Linux code base onto a common foundation for the development of commercial embedded applications," said Greg Stoner, manager of applications at MIPS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIPS). "EL/IX shows Cygnus' strong role in providing predictable tools and enabling an application base to help embedded developers promote the rapid development of new projects onto the MIPS(R) architecture." "Cygnus has consistently delivered innovative, open source technologies that are embraced by many development teams, including many Toshiba customers," said Dr. Kiichiro Tamaru, chief specialist, Technology Planning Division, Toshiba Corporation. "Toshiba, who already offers GNUPro tools on our TX-MIPS line of microprocessors, also welcomes Cygnus' introduction of EL/IX because we recognize the power of open source software running on more and more embedded devices." "Pacific Softworks has already ported Fusion, a fully portable suite of Internet protocols and applications, to eCos" said Glenn Russell, President and CEO, Pacific Softworks. "EL/IX API is an exciting development in embedded software and a big step forward for our customers who are looking for an industry standard operating system and support for embedded applications and networking. For users of Linux, using EL/IX with the Fusion suite will provide a total solution." EL/IX Welcomed by Linux Community "EL/IX looks like a totally awesome project," said Miguel de Icaza, creator of GNOME. "There are some people who are trying to port GNOME to some embedded devices, and they really need an operating system like eCos, not Linux, to meet their requirements. Obviously there's quite a bit of work to do, but the approach is promising. GNOME has made the right technical decision to permit reuse of the applications core while allowing different user interfaces for different setups. Now EL/IX makes it possible to continue this development by building a bridge that supports both Linux and eCos for embedded development. Cygnus has done it right again." "I am pleased to see Cygnus bringing its leadership in embedded systems to the Linux community through an open source, technically sound approach based on POSIX," said Ulrich Drepper, GLIBC maintainer for the Linux operating system. "The POSIX spec was used when Linux was created, and it seems only appropriate to use that specification to extend Linux into the embedded world. In particular, if done right, it means that there can be many different technical implementations with one common interface, which in turn means that developers have the freedom to be different while reducing the risk of fragmentation." The Role of APIs An API is a set of conventions and rules that provide a documented way for software, such as an application, to interface to other software, such as an operating system. An API will be required to create an industry-standard embedded Linux. Cygnus expects EL/IX API to meet the needs of embedded Linux, because it is fully available and based on POSIX 1003.1, the most widely accepted API for portable operating systems. "Today's announcement is an industry first. A whole spectrum of embedded development can be achieved using a single API that is already well-known, accepted, and scalable from high-end to deeply embedded applications," said Michael Tiemann, founder of Cygnus Solutions. "By maintaining the EL/IX API as open source software, Cygnus can help prevent the fragmentation that might occur in embedded Linux." Availability Cygnus is demonstrating an initial version of the EL/IX API this week at ESC in the Cygnus booth #1220 running on an Intel Pentium II processor based platform. Developers can review the EL/IX API and contribute to its development by registering to join the EL/IX API consortium at http://sourceware.cygnus.com/elix/ . Cygnus Solutions, the leader in open-source software and an innovating force in Internet software infrastructure, offers development tools and operating systems based on an open source model, as well as custom engineering services and developer support services. Founded in 1989, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, Cygnus has sales and engineering offices throughout North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom. ### (1) Real-time is characteristic of embedded applications such as anti-lock braking systems which cannot queue in a task such as stopping the automobile at a later time. Cygnus and GNUPro are registered trademarks, and Code Fusion, Insight, Sourceware, EL/IX, and eCos are trademarks of Cygnus Solutions. All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.