RTEMS 4.6.99.3 On-Line Library

Executive vs. Kernel vs. Operating System (RTOS)

RTEMS Frequently Asked Questions

1.5: Executive vs. Kernel vs. Operating System (RTOS)

The developers of RTEMS developers use the terms executive and kernel interchangeably. In the embedded system community, the terms executive or kernel are generally used to refer to small operating systems. So we consider it proper to refer to RTEMS as an executive, a kernel, or an operating system.

RTEMS Frequently Asked Questions