VxWorks definition
VxWorks is a real-time operating system (RTOS) used in embedded systems that require high performance, determinism, and reliability. It supports various CPU architectures and is widely used in aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial automation industries.
See also: real-time computing
History of VxWorks
- 1980s
- Jerry Fiddler and David Wilner founded Wind River Systems in Alameda, California.
- The first version of VxWorks was released, designed for the embedded market, especially the aerospace and defense sectors.
- 1990s
- The RTOS gained significant traction throughout the '90s, becoming the go-to solution for many mission-critical systems.
- Numerous aerospace projects, including the Mars Pathfinder mission, used VxWorks.
- 2000s
- Wind River introduced VxWorks 6.0, which included significant updates like support for symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and a new file system.
- VxWorks expanded beyond aerospace and defense into sectors like automotive and consumer electronics.
- Intel Corporation acquired Wind River Systems.
- 2010s
- VxWorks increased focus on security, safety, and support for the latest CPU architectures.
- The RTOS found its place in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, with adaptations suitable for connected devices.
- 2020s and beyond
- Wind River has continued to advance VxWorks, focusing on areas like 5G, edge computing, and autonomous systems.
- VxWorks remains one of the preferred RTOSes for critical infrastructure.
