VxWorks 7 Beginner Guide: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Real-Time Development

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If you’re new to embedded systems and keep hearing about VxWorks 7, you might be wondering:

What exactly is VxWorks?
Why do companies like NASA, Boeing, and GE use it?
How can I write my first program in VxWorks 7?

In this guide, we’ll answer these questions in a simple, step-by-step way—and even write and run a Hello World program using Wind River Workbench.

🌍 What is VxWorks 7?
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VxWorks 7 is a real-time operating system (RTOS). Unlike Windows or Linux, which are designed for general computing, an RTOS is built for systems that must respond immediately and predictably to events.

Examples:

🚀 Satellites and spacecraft (NASA Mars rover runs VxWorks!)
✈️ Airplane avionics systems
🏭 Industrial robots and automation
🏥 Medical devices like MRI machines

VxWorks ensures tasks happen on time, every time—which is critical for safety and performance.

⚡ Key Features of VxWorks 7 (Beginner’s View)
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Real-Time Performance – Tasks run with guaranteed timing.
Modular System – Only include what you need in your project.
POSIX Support – Easy to use standard C/C++ functions.
Multi-core Support – Runs on modern CPUs.
Safety & Security – Built for mission-critical applications.

🛠️ Step 1: Install Wind River Workbench
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Wind River Workbench is the official IDE for developing on VxWorks.

Download and install Wind River Workbench 7 (comes with VxWorks 7 SDK).
Launch Workbench. You’ll see a workspace selection dialog.
Choose a folder for your workspace and click OK.

🖥️ Step 2: Create a New VxWorks Project
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In Workbench, go to File → New → VxWorks Downloadable Kernel Module Project.
Enter a project name (e.g., HelloVxWorks).
Select your target CPU architecture (e.g., ARM, x86).
Click Finish.

Your new project is now created with starter files.

⚙️ Step 3: Configure a Target (Simulator or Hardware)
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If you don’t have real hardware, use the VxWorks Simulator.

Open the Target Manager in Workbench.
Add a new target → select VxSim (Simulator).
Start the target. You should see a console window open.

👋 Step 4: Write Your First Program
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Replace the generated code with this Hello World example:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <taskLib.h>

/* A simple task function */
void helloTask(void)
{
    printf("Hello VxWorks 7!\n");
}

/* This runs when the module is loaded */
void usrAppInit(void)
{
    taskSpawn("tHello", 100, 0, 8192, (FUNCPTR)helloTask, 
              0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0);
}

▶️ Step 5: Build and Run
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Right-click your project → Build Project.
In Target Manager, right-click your simulator → Connect.
Download and run the module:
- Right-click your project → Run As → VxWorks Downloadable Kernel Module.

You should see this output in the console:

Hello VxWorks 7!

🎉 Congratulations—you just ran your first real-time task in VxWorks 7!

🔄 Step 6: Try a Producer-Consumer Example
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Now let’s add a semaphore-based example to see tasks working together:

#include <stdio.h>
#include <taskLib.h>
#include <semLib.h>

SEM_ID sem;

void producerTask(void)
{
    while (1)
    {
        printf("Producer: data ready\n");
        semGive(sem);
        taskDelay(100); // simulate work
    }
}

void consumerTask(void)
{
    while (1)
    {
        semTake(sem, WAIT_FOREVER);
        printf("Consumer: processing data\n");
    }
}

void usrAppInit(void)
{
    sem = semBCreate(SEM_Q_FIFO, SEM_EMPTY);

    taskSpawn("tProducer", 90, 0, 8192, (FUNCPTR)producerTask, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0);
    taskSpawn("tConsumer", 100, 0, 8192, (FUNCPTR)consumerTask, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0);
}

This shows two tasks communicating—a fundamental RTOS concept.

📌 Why This Matters for Beginners
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Learning VxWorks 7 gives you:

✅ Real-world RTOS skills (also useful for FreeRTOS, Zephyr, or QNX).
✅ Exposure to tools used in aerospace, defense, and medical industries.
✅ A strong foundation in real-time programming concepts like tasks, semaphores, and synchronization.