Zephyr RTOS
Alpinum’s Zephyr RTOS Training Series gives embedded software engineers practical experience with Zephyr workflows, build configuration, kernel features, driver development, testing and portability. The course is designed for teams building connected embedded systems, sensor platforms, IoT devices or real-time software using modern RTOS methods.
This training is delivered as live online interactive sessions with direct demonstrations and structured labs.
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for:
- Embedded software engineers
- Firmware engineers working with RTOS-based systems
- C/C++ or Rust engineers moving into embedded development
- Teams evaluating or adopting Zephyr RTOS
- Engineers working with sensor platforms, connected devices or portable embedded software
What the Course Covers
The Zephyr RTOS Training Series covers the practical skills required to configure, build, test and extend Zephyr-based embedded software.
Key topics include:
- Zephyr architecture and workflows
- West toolchain management
- Devicetree and Kconfig
- Kernel scheduling
- Custom device drivers
- Zbus communication
- Ztest and Twister
- POSIX portability
- Power management
- Secure boot
Session 1: Foundations, Build & Configuration
Learning Objectives: Master the Zephyr ecosystem, toolchain management, and hardware abstraction via Devicetree and Kconfig.
Tasks:
- Initialize the Zephyr workspace using the West meta-tool.
- Configure system parameters using the Kconfig system.
- Define hardware peripherals using Devicetree and board overlays.
Extension Tasks:
- Experiment with custom board definitions to optimize hardware abstraction.
- Compare Zephyr’s build system with traditional vendor-specific SDKs.
Session 2: Kernel, Drivers & IPC
Learning Objectives: Understand kernel scheduling, develop custom device drivers, and implement inter-process communication using Zbus.
Tasks:
- Implement custom sensor drivers within the Zephyr driver model.
- Develop application logic using kernel threads and synchronization primitives.
- Integrate Zbus for decoupled data passing between system components.
Extension Tasks:
- Profile thread execution and latency using Zephyr’s kernel tracing tools.
- Implement advanced IPC mechanisms for complex multi-sensor architectures.
Session 3: Testing, Portability & Advanced Topics
Learning Objectives: Apply automated testing frameworks, ensure POSIX portability, and implement power management.
Tasks:
- Create automated unit tests using the Ztest and Twister frameworks.
- Port a standard POSIX application to run on the Zephyr native simulator.
- Configure power management states and secure boot parameters.
Extension Tasks:
- Set up a continuous integration (CI) pipeline using the Twister tool for automated regression testing.
- Simulate multi-node networking environments using Renode.
Capstone Exercise:
The course can include a custom sensor integration exercise, where participants build and test a Zephyr sensor driver with Zbus integration and automated testing constraints.
Learning Objectives: Consolidate RTOS knowledge by building and validating a production-grade component.
Description: Build and test a custom Zephyr sensor driver with Zbus integration and automated testing constraints.
Open Source Recommendation: Leverage the official Zephyr Project sample applications on GitHub, particularly the ZBus implementations in the main repository.
Coverage Matrix
| Topic | Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3 |
| Zephyr Architecture & Workflows | ✓ | ||
| Build Systems & Toolchains | ✓ | ||
| Devicetree & Kconfig | ✓ | ||
| Kernel Scheduling & Drivers | ✓ | ||
| IPC & Zbus Communication | ✓ | ||
| Testing & CI (Ztest/Twister) | ✓ | ||
| POSIX Portability | ✓ | ||
| Power Management & Secure Boot | ✓ |
Training Format & Benefits
- Format: Live online interactive sessions; 3 × 2-hour blocks featuring direct demos and structured labs.
- Key Benefits: Learn modern RTOS workflows, improve portability across disparate hardware, and apply CI methodologies to embedded development.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the training series, participants will understand Zephyr build workflows, configuration methods, driver development, IPC, testing and portability. They will be better prepared to apply Zephyr RTOS in real embedded software projects.
