I've noticed a growing trend in modern embedded systems development: many applications are increasingly built using an RTOS (such as FreeRTOS ) or even a full-fledged OS like Linux, rather than relying on traditional bare-metal programming—even in cases where bare-metal could technically deliver the required functionality.

Is this shift primarily driven by the long-term maintenance ? Or are there other key factors ?

 

It's easier.

 

It's easier.

You mentioned that RTOS/OS development is 'easier'—I'd like to understand that better!

 

 

In bare metal case, you have to develop or at least adapt pretty much anything. Simple things like reading or writing files becomes a chore that can take some time to massage into something functional. Same goes for ftp or email or anything really. Having OS can make many things ready to use. Another thing is support. You spend tons of time getting things the way you want on you bare metal design and suddenly requirements change. Some new function is needed. Configuring product through web browser, syncing time, or whatever and you need to scale up your design or even move to a different platform. Things done in bare metal tend to take longer to migrate. And if time to market is longer, you may fall back as others have adapted quicker than you.

 

If you needed to create file storage, do graphics, sound and video, ftp, email, IOT, bluetooth, etc., this is no longer a bare metal system that someone can create easily.

You can go bare metal on an Arduino, write your own libraries, etc.

It would take a substantial amount of effort to go bare metal on a Raspberry Pi without ready made OS.