MansOS Introduction

MansOS is a branch from LiteOS operating system, initially made to support TI Msp430 based platforms. Both OS share several defining characteristics. MansOS like LiteOS is designed to be easily adopted by the system designers and IT community familiar with C and C++ languages and Unix operating system concepts. The goal is to avoid the steep learning curve present in some other specialized operating systems.

Key concepts common with LiteOS:

• MansOS is adopting programming in C (and eventually C++), known to many developers
• MansOS is managing a sensor network using Unix-like concepts, command tools and resources
• MansOS has a Unix-like file system (in development)
• MansOS enables thread-like programming environment

Some key aspects specific to MansOS:

• MansOS is designed to be easily portable to new platforms
• Debugging support is integral part of MansOS: for example, Simple Sensor Management Protocol and Print Anywhere (over the serial or radio link) techniques help with debugging tasks.
• MansOS has PC as one of the supported platforms, enabling rapid development and high-level simulation and debugging on PC and Mac class computers.
• MansOS enforces the hardware abstraction in three layers: HPL (chips), HAL (platforms), and HIL (platform-independent code) at a mote level, ensuring clear interface for ease of portability to other platforms
• MansOS introduces a device concept similar to Unix systems. Access to most resources and sensors can be done through the device interface, using standard API including open, close, read, write and configure functions.