Coredump Sessions
Coredump Sessions
Podcast Description
Coredump Sessions is a podcast for embedded engineers and product teams building connected devices. Hosted by the team at Memfault, each episode features real-world stories and technical deep dives with experts across the embedded systems space.
From Bluetooth pioneers and OTA infrastructure veterans to the engineers who built Pebble, we explore the tools, techniques, and tradeoffs that power reliable, scalable devices. If you're building or debugging hardware, this is your go-to for embedded insights.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various aspects of embedded engineering, featuring topics like open-source firmware, Bluetooth technology, and device scalability, with episodes such as the discussion around the open-sourcing of Pebble OS and its implications for developers and the industry.
Coredump Sessions is a podcast for embedded engineers and product teams building connected devices. Hosted by the team at Memfault, each episode features real-world stories and technical deep dives with experts across the embedded systems space.
From Bluetooth pioneers and OTA infrastructure veterans to the engineers who built Pebble, we explore the tools, techniques, and tradeoffs that power reliable, scalable devices. If you’re building or debugging hardware, this is your go-to for embedded insights.
In today’s Coredump Session, we dive into the origins and evolution of Zephyr RTOS with Kate Stewart, VP of Dependable Embedded Systems at the Linux Foundation. From Intel’s early ambitions to a thriving global community, Kate unpacks how Zephyr grew into a leading open-source RTOS and what makes it uniquely resilient and developer-friendly. This conversation also explores the technical shifts shaping embedded development and how governance, safety, and collaboration continue to steer Zephyr’s trajectory.
Speakers:
- Kate Stewart: Vice President of Dependable Embedded Systems, The Linux Foundation
- François Baldassari: CEO & Founder, Memfault
- Thomas Sarlandie: Field CTO, Memfault
Key Takeaways:
- Zephyr was born from Intel’s desire for a scalable, secure, and open RTOS, evolving from Wind River roots.
- Early adoption of Linux-inspired practices, like Kconfig and ”signed-off-by” contributions, lowered friction and encouraged community participation.
- The project’s governance model, emphasizing multi-vendor participation and elected leadership, prevents corporate capture and boosts resilience.
- Zephyr’s pragmatic reuse of tools like MCUboot accelerated development and expanded capabilities.
- Long-term support (LTS) releases—now extended to five years—make Zephyr production-friendly and aligned with regulatory demands like the CRA.
- Innovations like the Twister test framework and open testing infrastructure set Zephyr apart for visibility and maintainability.
- Zephyr thrives as complexity in embedded systems increases, filling the gap left by simpler RTOSes ill-suited for modern MCU workloads.
- Not every project is a fit for Zephyr—especially ultra-low-end 8-bit systems—but it excels in growing, connected device classes.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
04:12 Building Zephyr: Intel’s Open RTOS Bet
06:39 Governance That Guards Against Capture
08:10 Borrowing From Linux, Avoiding Its Baggage
09:41 What Makes Zephyr Different
13:55 Zephyr in Production: LTS and Real-World Adoption
16:15 Scaling with Twister and QEMU
18:15 Taming Complexity Without Losing Performance
35:45 SBOMs and the Future of Compliance
38:20 A Head Start on Security Standards
43:02 Inside Zephyr's Safety Certification Journey
46:44 Real-World Use Cases and Industry Uptake
50:25 What's Next for Zephyr and the RTOS Landscape
53:12 Final Reflections and Closing Thoughts
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