What is FOSS

Several open source operating systems are being used in commercial embedded applications, such as smartphones, set-top boxes, routers, video game consoles, and many other consumer electronics. One of the best examples is the Linux kernel, which is present in millions of different embedded devices. That said, the Linux kernel is licensed under GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2), which enforces any derivative work to be licensed under the same terms as the original license. Embedded device manufacturers must be aware of such clauses and understand how to handle the distribution of their systems, including free software and open source operating systems, such as Linux kernel. This chapter covers relevant aspects of different open source licenses regarding operating systems and some common issues faced by developers of commercial applications. The foundation knowledge is presented to guide readers to choose an open source operating system according to its license for embedded commercial applications.