FW Editor: What are your plans or objectives in the near future?
Gregory Nutt: The goal of NuttX is to be a tiny Linux work-alike but targeted for resource-limited MCU platforms. Of course, NuttX cannot support all of the rich features of Linux and still be tiny; but it can support a compatible subset and provide a similar programming environment.

FW Editor: How and when did you start writing the code for NuttX? What inspired you the most? Do you plan to develop new software, or are you more focused on optimizing the current ones?
Gregory Nutt: I've produced similar RTOS design several times over the years in various products, so it was a simple matter to put together NuttX. It was also based upon some of similar thinking that went in to its predecessor UPThread. My focus for the near future will be focused on extending NuttX support to other MCU platforms and extending the NuttX feature set.

FW Editor: NuttX is one of the best real-time embedded operating system from the market. What is the secret?
Gregory Nutt: Complying with standards! All of the NuttX interfaces are based on documented RTOS standards such as POSIX and ANSII. Most Linux code designed for the desktop can be ported to the deeply embedded MCU environment with only a modest effort.

FW Editor: Do you plan to improve or change NuttX in any way? If yes, how are you going to do that?
Gregory Nutt: I don't have a precise roadmap of things that I want to accomplish. But I know the objective -- to be the tiny Linux -- and I will probably continue with tasks-of-opportunity to support that objective.

FW Editor: NuttX has quite a strong competition but, so far, it succeeded in making a name for itself. What do you think about the huge success of NuttX?
Gregory Nutt: It has been a huge effort to get NuttX to place it is now. Of course, I am pleased that it is gaining some popularity, but I would have produced NuttX anyway; working on NuttX is the job I've always wanted! Besided, I made the mistake of putting my name on it. Now I am really committed! BTW: NuttX is really an inside joke. I did the proprietary OS at a company I worked for some years back. A co-worker would refer to the proprietary OS as NuttX in a good-natured, sarcastic way. So I re-used that name for this project.

FW Editor: What is the main advantage of using NuttX over any other similar product?
Gregory Nutt: Standardization and Linux compatibility is are main advantages. This supports an intuitive development environment, portability, and possibility of code leverage. Standard OS sub-system (like file system, networking, USB, etc.) are fully integrated into the OS and usable in the same way as they are used under Linux.

FW Editor: Is there any customer support service for NuttX users?
Gregory Nutt: There is a web page with documentation at http://nuttx.org and a Yahoo! group forum. Most questions asked on the forum get a response in 24 hours. Contracted support is also a possibility.

FW Editor: What is your favorite feature from NuttX and why?
Gregory Nutt: I think it is the pseudo-filesystem. Like Linux, NuttX is very file system oriented. It supports execution from files, devices drivers, mounted volumes, etc. But to work in the tiny MCU environment, NuttX does things differently: Under Linux, you have to provide a "real" root file system meaning that you have to have real media just to boot Linux. Linux will then support pseudo-file systems mounted in the real root file system (like /proc and /sys). NuttX works just the opposite: It has a root pseudo-file system that does not require any physical media. Then, if you have a real block device, you can mount that in the pseudo file-system.

FW Editor: Can you tell us more about this feature? Why it is so important?
Gregory Nutt: It is important because most MCUs do not have resources in order to supported true mounted volumes. So the constraint of having media for a root file system is too much for the MCU. However, most MCUs will support something like SD which may or may not be inserted. If the SD is inserted, it can be mounted in the pseudo-file system. So, for these MCUs, NuttX provides the best of both worlds.

FW Editor: Now, to end our small interview, is there any message you would like to send to NuttX users?
Gregory Nutt: I am committed to NuttX and plan to suport it indefinitely. It is also my hope is that NuttX will grow to be a community effort. If there is anyone that is interested in working on the project, please contact me. If you you have ideas for new features, post them on the forum. If you have MCU ports that you want to contribute, please do!