TNKernel

Free

a compact and very fast real-time kernel for the embedded 32/16/8 bits microprocessors.

FreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Visit Website GitHub (40 stars)

About TNKernel

TNKernel is a compact and very fast real-time kernel designed for embedded 32/16/8-bit microprocessors. Inspired by the ITRON 4.0 specification, it provides semaphores, mutexes, data queues, event flags, and fixed-sized memory pools. The system employs preemptive priority-based scheduling and round-robin scheduling for tasks with identical priority. Written mostly in ANSI C with processor-specific parts, TNKernel is fully portable and has been ported to a wide range of MCUs including ARM Cortex-M3, Freescale HCS08, ColdFire, Microchip PIC24/dsPIC/PIC32, TI MSP430x, and Cortex-M4/FPU. The site also hosts supplementary embedded projects such as a TCP/IP stack, USB bulk firmware, and a Nano-X GUI library.

Key Features

Compact and fast real-time kernel

Inspired by ITRON 4.0 specification

Semaphores, mutexes, data queues, event flags, fixed-sized memory pools

Preemptive priority-based scheduling and round-robin scheduling

Fully portable, written in ANSI C

Ported to ARM Cortex-M3, Freescale HCS08, ColdFire, Microchip PIC24/dsPIC/PIC32, TI MSP430x, Cortex-M4/FPU

Accompanying projects: TCP/IP stack, USB bulk firmware, NANO-X GUI, SLFS

Pros & Cons

Pros

Compact and fast kernel suitable for resource-constrained MCUs
Free and open-source (no licensing costs)
Portable across many 8/16/32-bit MCU architectures
Rich set of IPC mechanisms (semaphores, mutexes, queues, event flags)
Established project with multiple auxiliary tools (TCP/IP, USB, GUI)

Cons

Documentation and community resources are limited
Last website update appears to be from 2017, suggesting limited active maintenance
No official support or managed release cycle

Best For

Real-time embedded systems developmentIndustrial control and automationInternet of Things (IoT) devicesPortable and low-power MCU applicationsEducational projects for RTOS concepts

FAQ

What is TNKernel?

TNKernel is a compact and very fast real-time kernel for embedded 32/16/8-bit microprocessors, inspired by the ITRON 4.0 specification. It includes semaphores, mutexes, data queues, event flags, and fixed-sized memory pools, with preemptive and round-robin scheduling.

Is TNKernel open-source?

Yes, TNKernel is an open-source RTOS. The source code and ports are freely available on the official website.

Which microcontroller platforms are supported?

TNKernel has been ported to ARM Cortex-M3, Freescale HCS08, ColdFire, Microchip PIC24/dsPIC/PIC32, TI MSP430x, and Cortex-M4/FPU.

What scheduling policies does TNKernel use?

TNKernel performs preemptive priority-based scheduling for tasks of different priorities and round-robin scheduling for tasks with identical priority.