↓Skip to main content

RT-Thread

Version: v5.2.0

Last updated: 2025-04-27

License:

  • Apache-2.0
  • GPL-2.0

Platforms:

arm-cortex-m arm-cortex-r arm-cortex-a risc-v mips xtensa x86 qemu posix

Components:

scheduler task-management inter-task-communication memory-management timer-management filesystem shell-cli network-stack http-client mqtt-client tls-ssl usb-host usb-device can modbus gui logging ota-update runtime-analysis simulation at-command wifi ble lorawan 6lowpan coap ftp-client dns-client dhcp-client

RT-Thread is an open-source, community-driven embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) established in 2006, primarily targeting IoT and diverse embedded applications. It offers both a standard version for feature-rich devices and a lightweight Nano version requiring minimal resources (3KB Flash, 1.2KB RAM). RT-Thread features a modular architecture with a real-time kernel, extensive middleware components (like filesystems, networking, GUI), and a rich package ecosystem. It emphasizes ease of porting across various MCU architectures (ARM, RISC-V, MIPS, etc.) and provides development tools like RT-Thread Studio and Env for configuration and building.

RT-Thread is designed as a comprehensive platform for embedded systems, particularly in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain. Born in 2006, it has evolved from a pure real-time kernel into a feature-rich operating system with a strong emphasis on components and connectivity.

Architecture:

RT-Thread’s architecture is layered:

  1. Kernel Layer: Provides core RTOS functionalities including multi-threading scheduling (priority-based preemptive and time-slicing), clock management, memory management (static pools, dynamic heaps with multiple algorithms like small memory and SLAB), and inter-thread communication (semaphores, mutexes with priority inheritance, event sets, mailboxes, message queues, signals). It also includes the CPU porting layer (libcpu) and Board Support Packages (BSP) for hardware adaptation.
  2. Components & Service Layer: Builds upon the kernel, offering essential middleware like the Device Virtual File System (DFS), FinSH command-line interface, networking frameworks (e.g., LwIP), a unified device driver framework, logging, and more. These components are designed with modularity and low coupling.
  3. Software Packages: A crucial part of the RT-Thread ecosystem, offering over 450 reusable software components for various domains like IoT protocols (MQTT, CoAP, HTTP), scripting (MicroPython, JerryScript), multimedia, tools (EasyFlash, SystemView), system utilities (RTGUI, Persimmon UI, SQLite), and peripheral libraries. These packages can be managed and integrated using RT-Thread’s tools.

Versions:

  • Standard Version: For resource-rich devices, leveraging the full component and package ecosystem.
  • Nano Version: A highly configurable, minimal kernel footprint version (as low as 3KB Flash, 1.2KB RAM) suitable for resource-constrained MCUs.

Development Tools:

  • RT-Thread Studio: A dedicated one-stop IDE based on Eclipse, offering project creation, graphical configuration (replacing manual rtconfig.h editing), code editing, SDK management, building, debugging, and package management.
  • Env Tool: A command-line based auxiliary tool providing configuration (menuconfig), package management (pkgs), and project generation for GCC, Keil MDK, and IAR environments.

Licensing: Since version 3.1.0, RT-Thread follows the permissive Apache License 2.0, making it suitable for commercial applications without requiring source code disclosure. Earlier versions used the GPLv2 license.

Features
#

  • Small Footprint: Nano version requires only 1.2KB RAM and 3KB Flash.
  • Real-time Kernel: Priority-based preemptive scheduler, 256 priorities (configurable), time-slicing for same-priority threads.
  • Rich Components: Includes Filesystem (DFS), Command-line Interface (FinSH), Network Stack (LwIP), Device Driver Framework.
  • Extensive Package Ecosystem: Over 450+ packages for IoT, scripting, multimedia, tools, system, and peripherals.
  • Memory Management: Supports static memory pools and dynamic memory heaps (multiple algorithms like small memory, SLAB, memheap).
  • Inter-Thread Communication: Provides Semaphores, Mutexes (with priority inheritance), Event Sets, Mailboxes, Message Queues, Signals.
  • Timer Management: Offers one-shot and periodic timers, supporting HARD (interrupt context) and SOFT (thread context) modes.
  • Device Management: Unified device model for peripherals like UART, SPI, I2C, USB, CAN etc.
  • POSIX Compatibility: Provides a standard POSIX API layer (pthreads, semaphore, message queue).
  • Wide Architecture Support: Runs on ARM Cortex-M/R/A, RISC-V, MIPS, Xtensa, x86, and more.
  • Development Tools: Includes RT-Thread Studio IDE and Env command-line tool with menuconfig.
  • Licensing: Apache License 2.0 (commercial friendly).

Components
#

  • Kernel: scheduler, task-management, inter-task-communication, memory-management, timer-management
  • File System: filesystem (DFS, FAT, LittleFS, etc.), database (SQLite via package)
  • Networking: network-stack (LwIP), http-client, http-server, mqtt-client, coap, ftp-client, ftp-server, dhcp-client, dns-client, tls-ssl, wifi, ble, lorawan, 6lowpan
  • Peripherals: can, modbus, usb-host, usb-device, at-command
  • Tools: shell-cli (FinSH), logging, ota-update, runtime-analysis (SystemView integration), simulation (QEMU)
  • GUI: gui (RTGUI, Persimmon UI)

Resources
#

  • ART. ART is an Arduino like board with STM32F407VGT6 (ARM Cortex-M4) chip. RT-Thread RTOS is running as a platform in this board. Arduino hardware/software compatible. 32bit ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU. Running multi-Arduino Program in parallel.
  • awtk. AWTK = Toolkit AnyWhere(a cross-platform embedded GUI).
  • FlexibleButton. 灵活的按键处理库（Flexible Button）| 按键驱动 | 支持单击、双击、连击、长按、自动消抖 | 灵活适配中断和低功耗 | 按需实现组合按键.
  • MQ. D1s small board: MQ for RT-Thread customized.
  • DIY_projects_base_on_RT-Thread. 一些基于 RT-Thread 开发的 DIY 项目.
  • LittlevGL2RTT. The littlevgl graphics library for RT-Thread. | 基于 RT-Thread 移植的littlevgl图形库..
  • 2019-Electronic-Design-Competition. 【电赛】2019 全国大学生电子设计竞赛 （F题）纸张数量检测装置 （基于STM32F407 & FDC2214 & USART HMI）.
  • RT-Thread-wrapper-of-uCOS-III. RT-Thread操作系统的uCOS-III兼容层 | uCOS-III RTOS Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) for RT-Thread.
  • nuclei-sdk. Nuclei RISC-V Software Development Kit.
  • RTduino. Arduino Ecosystem Compatibility Layer for RT-Thread | RT-Thread的Arduino生态兼容层.
  • IoT_Camera. IoT Camera with Wi-Fi, RT-Thread.
  • rt-u8g2. U8g2 for rt-thread - a monochrome graphics library.
  • ZJ-SDK-RT-Thread-NORDIC. 基于RT-Thread操作系统在子敬电子ZJ-TEK系列开发板的软件开发包.
  • Lua2RTT. Lua port package for RT-Thread. .
  • Arduino_RT-Thread. RT-Thread library optimized for Arduino..
  • ZJ-RT-Thread-NIMBLE-NORDIC. 基于RT-Thread操作系统的开源BLE5.0(mynewt-nimble)在nordic平台上的应用.
  • RT-Thread-wrapper-of-uCOS-II. RT-Thread操作系统的uCOS-II兼容层 | uCOS-II RTOS Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) for RT-Thread.
  • buildpkg. Quick build rt-thread pkg toolkits. | 快速构建rt-thread pkg工具集. .
  • tree-core-cpu. A series of RISC-V soft core processor written from scratch. Now, we’re using all open-source toolchain (chisel, mill, verilator, NEMU, AM and difftest framework, etc) to design and verify. .
  • micropython_for_pandora. 🍭 IoT Board 潘多拉开发板上功能强大的 MicroPython 固件.
  • optparse. getopt-like command-line parameter parser for RT-Thread.
  • rt-rosserial. rosserial on RT-Thread (ROS1)..
  • rt-thread-syswatch. syswatch : A component used to ensure the long-term normal running of the system.
  • FreeRTOS-Wrapper. RT-Thread操作系统的FreeRTOS兼容层 | FreeRTOS Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-bc28-mqtt. MQTT package based on Quectel BC28 AT model.
  • picorv32_tang. A 32-bit RISC-V SoC on FPGA that supports RT-Thread..
  • TensorflowLiteMicro. Tensorflow Lite Micro is a DL inference framework for microcontrollers based on Google Tensorflow Lite.
  • K210. Kendryte K210 BSP for RT-Thread.
  • rtpkg_list. 收集有趣的、有用的、方便移植的开源仓库，大家有兴趣可以尝试移植到RT-Thread。.
  • micro_ros. MicroROS on RT-Thread (ROS2)..
  • thread_pool. a thread pool base on RT-Thread | 基于 RT-Thread 的线程池实现.
  • rtt_rust. 使用rust开发rt-thread app.
  • rt_vsnprintf_full. rt_vsnprintf完整功能版本 | Fully functional version of rt_vsnprintf.
  • MpyOnRtt. MicroPython port for RT-Thread on STM32F4 board.
  • Qfplib-M0-tiny. A free ARM Cortex-M0 floating-point library in 1 kbyte.
  • picorv32_EG4S20. A 32-bit RISC-V SoC on FPGA that supports RT-Thread..
  • rtthread_deep_analysis. 解析 RT-Thread 操作系统，分析功能模块实现过程中的数据结构。.
  • minizip. zip manipulation library | zip压缩解压库.
  • rt_kprintf_threadsafe. rt_kprintf线程安全版本.
  • rt_memcpy_cm. rt_memcpy Cortex-M 汇编加速版.
  • hbird_e203_tang. A 32bit RISC-V SoC on FPGA (EG4S20) that supports RT-Thread..
  • rttrust. Rust wrapper for rt-thread.
  • Qfplib-M0-full. A free, fast and compact ARM Cortex-M0 floating-point library.
  • lv_demo_music. LVGL music player demo for RT-Thread | LVGL音乐播放器演示示例（RT-Thread定制版）.
  • ESP8266-RT-Thread. It’s a open source repository, which decribes running RT-Thread on ESP8266..
  • ZJ_RT_Thread_NimBLE_LittlevGL_Nordic. 基于RT-Thread操作系统的开源BLE5.0(mynewt-nimble)+开源GUI LittlevGL在nordic nrf52840平台上的应用.
  • micropython_for_w601. 🍭 W601 IoT Board 开发板 RT-Thread MicroPython 固件.
  • CMSIS_RTOS2. RT-Thread操作系统的CMSIS-RTOS2兼容层 | CMSIS-RTOS2 Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) for RT-Thread.
  • FCTC-ART-Pi-Code. Learn IoT From Chip To Cloud with ART-Pi.
  • rtt-ssd1306. RT-Thread package for working with OLEDs based on SSD1306, SH1106, SH1107 and SSD1309, supports I2C and SPI. Inspired by stm32-ssd1306..
  • rtt-pmsxx. Plantower PMSxx family sensor driver for RT-Thread.
  • RTT_MH1903. RT-Thread for MH1903.
  • rtt-sgp30. Support SGP30 Multi-Pixel Gas Sensor which can ouput TVOC and eCO2 data.
  • rtt-dhtxx. Digital Humidity and Temperature sensor (communicate via single bus), including DHT11, DHT21 and DHT22.
  • pinout-generator. RTduino pinout generator.
  • rt-thread_linux_env. rt-thread 持续集成 docker环境 .
  • termbox. Termbox for RT-Thread | Library for writing text-based user interfaces.
  • RT-Hypervisor. RT-Hypervisor: A real-time hypervisor for automotive embedded system.
  • W601_RT-thread_Alarm. RT-Thread软件包赛作品–小闹钟，使用正点原子W601开发板完成.
  • micropython_for_sparrow_one. :bird: Sparrow one micropython develop board firmware..
  • Qfplib-M3. A free, fast and accurate ARM Cortex-M3 floating-point library.
  • uC-Modbus-for-RT-Thread. Micrium uC/Modbus for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-ds3231. ds3231 driver for rt-thread.
  • rtt-littled. Little LED Daemon for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-rx8900. rx8900 driver for rt-thread.
  • canfestival-rtt. canfestival在RTT操作系统上的优化代码,对通信异常做了处理.
  • proj24-rt-smart-porting. 将支持MMU虚拟内存机制的RT-Thread Smart移植到RISC-V模拟器和真机上。.
  • uC-CRC-for-RT-Thread. Micrium uC/CRC for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-gp2y10. Support the Particulate Matter sensor for GP2Y1010AU0F and GP2Y1014AU0F.
  • rtt-ccs811. CCS811 sensor driver for RT-Thread.
  • rtt_tetris. Playing tetris on RT-Thread FinSH..
  • paj7620. PAJ7620 module package for RTT.
  • W600_RT-Thread_Smart_fingerprint_lock. W600-RT-Thread智能指纹门锁.
  • rt-thread-get_irq_priority. 在RT-thread中获取Cortex®-M内核的中断优先级.
  • uC-Common-for-RT-Thread. Micrium uC/Common for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-vl53l0x. Time of Flight sensor driver for VL53L0X.
  • donut. a 3D spinning donut.
  • iotsharp-rtthread-package. 在RT-Thread中对接IoTSharp的SDK.
  • Ppool. 基于pthread的线程池库.
  • CMSIS_RTOS1. RT-Thread操作系统的CMSIS-RTOS1兼容层 | CMSIS-RTOS1 Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) for RT-Thread.
  • threes. RT-Thread终端益智类游戏 | An indie puzzle video game runs on RT-Thread console .
  • uC-Clk-for-RT-Thread. Micrium uC/Clk for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-bme680. BME680 sensor package for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-libfilter. Digital filter algorithm library for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-sgm706. SGM706 Independent watchdog package for RT-Thread.
  • aclock. A Terminal Clock.
  • hdc1000. TI HDC1000 package for RT-Thread.
  • STM32F407VET6. 这是 STM32F407VETx 的rt-thread 的工程模板。.
  • rtt-tmp1075. tmp1075 driver for rt-thread.
  • rtt-tca9534. tca9534 driver for RT-Thread.
  • PANDORA. 演示如何在正点原子的潘多拉开发板上对接IoTSharp .
  • c2048. RT-Thread终端益智类游戏 | An indie puzzle video game runs on RT-Thread console .
  • rtt-iot-board. IoT Board (stm32l475-atk-pandora) running RT-Thread.
  • myTest. my first test on github.
  • rtt-fbtft. RT-Thread Framebuffer drivers for small TFT LCD display modules.
  • rtt-math. Mathematics Library for RT-Thread.
  • rtt-validator. A validation algorithm library for RT-Thread.

Website: http://www.rt-thread.org/

Source code: https://github.com/RT-Thread/rt-thread