Grumpy_Mike:
The only people who are interested in operating systems and multithreading are those who know little about actual hardware and how to control it. Those people who do not want to make things. Linux users, for example, get their kick from installing stuff and when they get good at that they like compiling other peoples code. Most people here like to actually make stuff, that is real physical computing.
Those statements are extreme exaggerations that are in fact false.
OSes, are used in all kinds of products from IP cameras, routers, to DVRs and every feature and smart phone
out there.
MANY products out there use various real time OSes in their products.
And as far as Linux goes, ever looked inside a Tivo or any android phone, or many GPS devices....
Open your eyes, linux is used in real products all over the place.
While I woudn't use it, heck even Windows is used in many factory automation environments and believe it or not
is used inside many ATM machines.
I believe you use the right tool to get the job done.
And sometimes an OS still makes a lot of sense even in environments/systems
that are doing very critical realtime processing of events/data.
--- bill