Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference North America 2026

FreeRTOS has long been the go-to RTOS for embedded developers. But as projects grow in complexity, demanding better modularity, richer middleware, and long-term maintainability, teams are turning to Zephyr. The migration, however, can feel daunting. Different APIs, build systems, configuration models, and abstractions create a steep learning curve.

This session delivers a practical, step-by-step guide for transitioning from FreeRTOS to Zephyr with confidence. We'll map the similarities and differences between the two RTOSes, demonstrate migration strategies for tasks, queues, and synchronization primitives, and show how to translate existing FreeRTOS designs into Zephyr's ecosystem — covering proven tips to avoid common pitfalls, validate your port, and leverage Zephyr's strengths from device trees to vendor-neutral drivers.

Key Takeaways:
- Core architectural differences between FreeRTOS and Zephyr
- Migrating primitives (tasks, queues, semaphores, timers) to Zephyr equivalents
- Adapting build systems, configuration, and drivers
- Best practices for validating and testing migrated code
- Leveraging Zephyr's ecosystem for scalability and long-term support