# Zephyr Open Source Project Best Practices Over Time
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Source: [https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6311-zephyr-open-source-project-best-practices-over-time/](https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-6311-zephyr-open-source-project-best-practices-over-time/)
<video src="https://video.fosdem.org/2025/k1105/fosdem-2025-6311-zephyr-open-source-project-best-practices-over-time.av1.webm" controls></video>
## Summary & Highlights:
The session 'Zephyr: Open Source Project Best Practices Over Time' at FOSDEM 2025 highlights the Zephyr project's journey in adopting and applying open source best practices. These practices have not only contributed to the project's growth but also to its security and certification achievements.
**Introduction to Zephyr**
Zephyr is a real-time operating system (RTOS) designed for connected, resource-constrained devices. It emphasizes security, safety, and community-driven development. The project has grown significantly since its launch in 2016, now boasting over 100,000 commits and a robust community.
**Adoption of Best Practices**
Zephyr has applied lessons from the Linux kernel community, focusing on vendor-neutral governance, consensus-oriented decision-making, and a hierarchical development model. These practices have facilitated a thriving open-source community and contributed to the project's success in the embedded space.
**Security and Certification**
Security has been a core focus for Zephyr from the beginning. The project has implemented stringent security practices and achieved multiple security certifications. Zephyr's commitment to security is further demonstrated by its status as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA) and its ongoing work towards safety certifications.
**Community and Ecosystem Growth**
The Zephyr project has experienced significant community growth, with a diverse range of contributors and a vibrant ecosystem of supported hardware and software. The project's open governance model encourages participation from companies and individuals alike, fostering innovation and collaboration.
**Impact on Eco-Social Transformation**
Zephyr's open-source model and commitment to security and safety make it a valuable tool for eco-social designers. Its modular, flexible architecture supports sustainable development by enabling the creation of energy-efficient, secure IoT solutions. However, challenges remain in scaling community management and maintaining diversity.
## Importance for an eco-social transformation
Zephyr's open-source approach and focus on security and safety are crucial for eco-social transformation. The project's practices enable the development of sustainable, secure IoT solutions, which are essential for energy efficiency and environmental monitoring. Eco-social designers can leverage Zephyr's modular architecture and extensive hardware support to create innovative, resource-efficient applications. However, challenges such as maintaining community diversity and navigating regulatory landscapes must be addressed to fully realize these opportunities.
## Slides:
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| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_001.jpg\|300]] | The first slide introduces the Zephyr Project, highlighting its focus on open source best practices over time. Kate Stewart, a key figure in the project, presents an overview of the project's evolution since its inception in 2016.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_002.jpg\|300]] | This slide provides an overview of Kate Stewart's background, emphasizing her involvement in embedded open-source projects like Zephyr, Real Time Linux, and ELISA. It also highlights her volunteer work on SPDX and SBOM, as well as personal interests in photography and travel.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_003.jpg\|300]] | The third slide outlines the key features of the Zephyr Project, including its focus on being a developer-friendly, secure, and modular open-source RTOS. It emphasizes vendor-neutral governance, Apache 2.0 licensing, and readiness for product development and certification.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_004.jpg\|300]] | This slide discusses the progress and milestones achieved by the Zephyr Project in 2024, reflecting on its growth and impact within the community.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_005.jpg\|300]] | The slide summarizes the Zephyr Project's achievements and innovations in 2024, highlighting its community impact and growth over the year.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_006.jpg\|300]] | This slide continues to detail the Zephyr Project's 2024 achievements, focusing on innovation and community contributions.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_007.jpg\|300]] | Further elaboration on the Zephyr Project's 2024 milestones, showcasing its continuous growth and community engagement.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_008.jpg\|300]] | The slide presents data on the velocity of Linux Foundation projects, including Zephyr, illustrating its position within the broader open-source ecosystem.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_009.jpg\|300]] | Additional insights into the velocity of Linux Foundation projects, highlighting Zephyr's increasing activity and contributions.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_010.jpg\|300]] | This slide compares the velocity of top open-source projects, with Zephyr making significant strides in its contribution and activity levels.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_011.jpg\|300]] | Further analysis of the velocity of top open-source projects, emphasizing Zephyr's growing prominence in the open-source community.
| ![[FOSDEM 2025/assets/Zephyr-Open-Source-Project-Best-Practices-Over-Tim/preview_012.jpg\|300]] | The slide provides a detailed comparison of various open-source RTOS ecosystems, highlighting Zephyr's community-driven development and contribution statistics.
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## Links
[Zephyr Project: Open Source Best Practices](https://fosdem.org/2025/events/attachments/fosdem-2025-6311-zephyr-open-source-project-best-practices-over-time/slides/238153/202501_FO_hPOnqUM.pdf) - Slides