Abstract: Methods, devices, configuration tools and operating systems are disclosed for reducing memory and processor usage in a computer operating system utilising a processor, a memory and a single stack, the operating system comprising a plurality of tasks divided into predetermined priority categories, including preemptive tasks and at least one task that voluntarily yields control of the processor to tasks of lower priority than itself in predetermined circumstances, wherein each task has associated therewith a stack pointer, and wherein the at least one task, when started, has its stack pointer set to a precalculated worst-case value guaranteed to leave sufficient space in the stack beneath the stack pointer for any preemptive tasks of lower priority, and wherein the at least one task has allocated to it an area of memory into which its stack contents is saved, a size of the area of memory being determined by a declared precalculated worst-case stack usage of the at least one task at any point at which the at lea

Abstract: There are disclosed methods, computing devices and software products that seek to reduce memory/processor overheads in static priority scheduled operating systems by reducing the number of resource contexts that need to be saved and restored when running a plurality of tasks. This may be achieved by forming mutually-exclusive non-pre-emption groups of tasks, and/or by determining which tasks share a common resource.