Embedded systems often operate under strict timing and reliability constraints, yet most existing file systems prioritize throughput and flexibility over predictability. This mismatch can lead to non-deterministic behavior, unbounded latency, and difficult-to-debug failures in resource-constrained environments. In resource-constrained environments such as automotive control units and aerospace flight systems.
This talk explores the design and implementation of a deterministic file system built specifically for embedded systems using modern C++. Rather than focusing on feature completeness, the system prioritizes predictable behavior through fixed block allocation, metadata-first layouts, and bounded operation times.
We will examine how determinism can be treated as a first-class design constraint, influencing everything from on-disk structure to API design. The talk will also highlight how modern C++ features—such as strong typing, RAII, and compile-time configuration—can be leveraged to enforce correctness and reduce runtime overhead without sacrificing clarity.
Attendees will gain insight into real-world tradeoffs required to achieve determinism, including limitations in flexibility and storage efficiency, as well as strategies for adapting the design across different hardware backends such as file-backed devices, SPI flash, and embedded Linux block devices.
This session is aimed at engineers building systems where predictability matters more than peak performance, and who want to apply modern C++ techniques to low-level, resource-constrained environments.
Elbert Dockery is a software engineer, worked at several aerospace and defense companies as well as small startups. He has experience with systems software as well embedded systems.
