Verdekt

Verdekt is a lightweight, open‑source operating system designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Developed to provide a minimalistic yet secure runtime environment, Verdekt offers real‑time capabilities with a footprint of less than 500 KB, making it suitable for microcontrollers with limited memory and storage. The operating system implements a microkernel architecture, separating core services such as memory management, task scheduling, and network protocols from device drivers, which can be added or removed as needed.

The project began in 2014 as a research initiative at the University of Alpenstadt, led by Dr. Elena Müller. Early versions were released under the GNU General Public License, and the community grew through contributions from hobbyists, academia, and industrial partners. In 2017, Verdekt reached version 1.0, introducing modular plug‑ins for Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRaWAN, and secure OTA updates. The system also includes a lightweight cryptographic library to protect data transmissions without excessive CPU usage.

Since its launch, Verdekt has been adopted by a handful of sensor‑domestic and agricultural applications, notably in precision farming, where its low power consumption allows for extended battery life in distributed sensor networks. Despite its niche utilization, the platform has influenced other lightweight firmware stacks, and its modular design principles are cited in academic studies on secure embedded systems. Current development focuses on expanding support for industrial protocols such as MQTT‑S and adding a graphical configuration interface for non‑technical users.