Introduction to the TinyOS Platform

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Introduction to the TinyOS Platform
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What is TinyOS?

• TinyOS is a free and open source component-based
  operating system and platform targeting wireless
  sensor networks (WSNs).
• TinyOS is an embedded operating system written in
  the nesC programming language as a set of
  cooperating tasks and processes.

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What Is nesC?

• nesC (network embedded systems C) is a
  component-based, event-driven programming
  language used to build applications for the
  TinyOS platform.
• TinyOS is an operating environment designed to
  run on embedded devices used in distributed
  Wireless Sensor Networks.
• nesC is built as an extension to the C
  programming language with components "wired"
  together to run applications on TinyOS.

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How is it different than C?

• Has object like modules, and we wire them
  together to connect an interface to an
  implementation

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How is it similar?

• More similar to C than C
• Basic coding constructs --- pointers, structs,
  functions

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Limitations and Common Pitfals

• Relatively Immature Compiler
• Looks like C, but slight differences
• Comparisons of different type widths
• Overloading task queue
• Have to pre-alloc data structures
• Have to watch out for pushing OS too hard
• Concurrency and events

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Working With the Development Environment

• Windows XP based
• Uses cygwin to simulate the linux working
  environment
• Work in a shell via cygwin

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How do I Compile My Code?

• We use gcc and make
• Make files are pre-built with environment
• Simply type in make imote2 in cygwin while in
  the project directory
• This will create a binary for the imote2 platform

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Flashing Imote2

• Now that we have a binary, we need to get it on
  the actual device
• To move the binary to the imote2, or to flash
  the mote, we type in
• ./USBLoaderHost.exe -p build/imote2/main.bin.out

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The Counter Application

• Now lets compile a basic application and flash a
  mote

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Homework

• The tinyOS platform is similar to a traditional
  operating system, but subtly different. These
  subtle differences and other aspects of the
  platform create many inherent pitfalls as we tend
  to fall into preconceived notions about how the
  system works. For next class, review the
  following resources and familiarize yourself with
  the topics of
• Tasks and Events, vs Processes
• Interfaces, Modules, and Wiring
• http//www.tinyos.net/tinyos-1.x/doc/nesc/ref.pdf

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Questions?

• Contact me
• Aim jpatanooga
• Email jpatterson_at_cerillian.com
• Homepage http//jpatterson.floe.tv