8 August 2011 – London, , Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), today announced an agreement with Micriµm, a leading supplier of embedded RTOS solutions, to provide free evaluation access to the source code for Micriµm’s µC/OS-III Real-Time Kernel. The move is in line with the Group’s focus on providing engineering design solutions, driving business to the web and growing sales in emerging markets 

Downloadable from the Operating Systems and Stacks room in the recently launched element14 knode, Micriµm’s ‘source-available’ model for µC/OS-III streamlines the path from evaluation to production.  To help ensure that developers evaluating uC/OS-III make the most of the experience, the element14 knode also provides free PDF versions of Micriµm’s book, µC/OS-III – The Real-Time Kernel. 

µC/OS-III books, compatible evaluation boards, tools and projects are all available from the element14 knode.  Developers start the evaluation process by downloading the uC/OS-III source from element14. Once they have decided to use the kernel for production, they can then purchase a license directly from element14 and leverage the fully featured and fully supported industry strength software.  µC/OS-III is free to students, professors, hobbyists and professionals for non-commercial use.

“We are pleased that our source-available model for µC/OS-III will be a key component in helping design engineers quickly develop new products through the element14 knode, “said Jean Labrosse, founder, CEO and President of Micriµm. “We recognise the added value that the element14 knode offers to the designer and are excited to be a part of its continued development.”

Micriµm is a global RTOS leader and a top choice for embedded design engineers building microprocessor, microcontroller and DSP-based solutions.  Applications include medical, military and aerospace, industrial, consumer and telecom.

“We are delighted to be working closely with Micriµm in the global roll out of their strategy for opening up µC/OS-III source for free evaluation and education,” said David Shen, Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of EDE and Technical Marketing of Premier Farnell. 

“Our element14 community has changed the way engineers collaborate, and the element14 knode is changing the way engineers can quickly access and configure their design flow solutions.  The initiative with Micriµm provides our customers with immediate access to the µC/OS-III kernel and fast, accurate evaluation is a critical step in reducing their time to market.” 

The µC/OS-III source code and PDF copies of the uC/OS-III The Real-Time Kernel book can be downloaded from http://www.element14.com/community/community/knode/operating_systems