Here's a fun fact: Linux doesn't just run your Kubernetes clusters – it runs the world. Your car? Very likely Linux. The router for this conference WiFi? Linux. Your office HVAC? Probably Linux. NASA's Mars helicopter? Definitely Linux. And most of these systems are built with the Yocto Project, which just turned 15 years old.
Hi, I'm Josef Holzmayr – the "Yocto Jester" – and I've spent years building Linux systems for everything from industrial controls to coffee machines. In this talk, I'll show you the massive embedded ecosystem that not only mainstream developers, but actually everybody in today's world never sees but absolutely depends on.
We'll explore:
Why car manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes build with Yocto
How internet infrastructure actually works (spoiler: it's Linux all the way down)
What happens when your deployment target has 64MB of RAM and needs to run for 10 years
Why embedded developers are obsessed with reproducible builds (and why you should care)
But here's where it gets interesting: The EU Cyber Resilience Act is about to mandate good security practices for connected devices. Imagine maintaining software for millions of washing machines, deployed for 15+ years, that can't just be "recalled" for updates. The embedded world is preparing for this challenge, and there are lessons here for everyone.
Whether you're curious about why your refrigerator needs firmware updates, considering embedded as a career move (spoiler: we desperately need more developers), or just want to understand what actually makes the physical world tick, this session will change how you think about software.

Preferred duration: 45-60 minutes