Shared vision for mission-critical systems bridges old languages and new with certified toolchain for LynxOS-178 and LynxElement
SAN JOSE, Calif. - November 2, 2022 -Lynx Software Technologies (Lynx) the leader in delivering solutions for the Mission Critical Edge, today announced that its LynxOS-178 operating system and LynxElement unikernel will include support for Rust, a systems programming language that is designed for performance and memory safety. To do so, Lynx has partnered with AdaCore, the leading provider of commercial software solutions for Ada, C and C++ languages, and Ferrous Systems, a provider of safety-critical and certified toolchains for Rust users.
Rust is a programming language designed around performance, safety and concurrency. Specifically, Rust ensures memory safety at compile time, meaning that all references point to valid memory without using separate methodologies found in other programming languages. While still a relatively new programming language, Rust is developing significant momentum, especially in the mission- and safety-critical embedded software market, including the automotive and aerospace industries. In recent weeks, Rust has made news. First, Azure CTO Mark Russinovich declared in a Twitter post that new projects should “halt starting projects in C/C++” in favor of Rust where garbage collection is not permissible. Second, Rust reached a milestone that C++ could not by getting incorporated into the Linux kernel.
"I've been tracking unikernels as a technology since 2017 because they show promise to help increase security, performance, and efficiency for a wide variety of applications. However, barriers to entry for developers and integrators have been major impeders for adoption,” said Tom Macklin, Computer Scientist, US Naval Research Laboratory. “Initiatives such as this opens up the Rust ecosystem for deployment on unikernels. I am excited to see how they make systems more secure, performant, secure, and modular.”
Earlier this year, Ferrous Systems and AdaCore joined forces to develop the Ferrocene compiler toolchain, with the goal of supporting the needs of various regulated markets, such as automotive, avionics, space, and railway. In particular, Ferrocene will be provided with the necessary qualification and certification artifacts for their respective markets. Lynx sees Rust and Ferrocene as key components to modernize the way embedded systems are developed and as a result have incorporated support for them in its flagship products to enable the development of safer code.
“The alignment across the missions of AdaCore, Ferrous Systems and Lynx Software Technologies is clear to see,” said Tim Reed, CEO, Lynx Software Technologies. “Similar to our long tradition of enabling the development of mission- and safety-critical systems, AdaCore has a successful history as a trusted supplier of certified toolchains and Ferrous Systems brings a wealth of knowledge and promising track record of helping developers adopt Rust into their embedded software systems. We believe the combination of our respective offerings will enable the industry to bring safer systems to market quickly.”
“Demand for safety, security and reliability in programming languages is at an all-time high,” said Quentin Ochem, Chief Product Officer at AdaCore. “Rust is one of the best options available to enable all three without impeding efficiency. Together with the currently supported Ada and SPARK languages, this makes the LynxOS-178 operating system one of the most advanced platforms for running demanding, long-lived, mission critical applications. We are delighted to work with Ferrous Systems and Lynx to continue driving the upward momentum for safer code in the embedded software industry.”
LynxOS-178 is a native POSIX, hard real-time partitioning operating system developed and certified to FAA DO-178C DAL A safety standards. It is the primary host for real-time POSIX and FACE™ applications within the LYNX MOSA.ic™ development and integration framework. LynxElement, which was also announced earlier this year, is the industry’s first unikernel to be POSIX compatible and available for commercial use. LynxElement is offered as part of the LYNX MOSA.ic portfolio of products for a diverse set of mission-critical use cases. End customers in the military, avionics and federal segments need a programming language around which a vibrant ecosystem is growing, as they look to drastically reduce costs and development timeframes associated with the creation of secure mission critical systems.
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About Lynx Software Technologies
Lynx Software Technologies is the premier Mission Critical Edge company that enables safe, secure and high-performance environments for global customers in aerospace and automotive, enterprise and industrial markets. Since 1988, companies have trusted Lynx’s real-time operating system, virtualization and system certification experience, which uniquely enables mixed criticality systems to be harnessed and deliver deterministic real-time performance and intelligent decision-making. Together with a growing set of technology partners, Lynx is realizing a new class of Mission Critical Edge systems that keep people and valuable data protected, at every moment. For more information, visit www.lynx.com.
For Lynx
Kirsten Nelson
+1 (408) 206-5753
knelson@lynx.com
Lynx Software Technologies: November 21, 2024 10:06:41 AM PST
