OSS + ELC EU 2026

Everyone can build a prototype, but shipping products is where the chaos begins. In this session, we explore embedded systems by discussing failures we have experienced as engineers, consumers, and industry observers. Navigating the vast open-source ecosystem of the embedded Linux galaxy and selecting the right tools for the job is a challenge.

Instead of idealized architectural theory, we will share war stories and costly mistakes, facing the grim reality of bricked devices, maintenance costs and e-waste generation. We will be talking about a coffee machine that needs a technician to cross the galaxy to replace a PCB, an OTA update strategy that lacks the ability to upgrade offline devices with a USB stick, a smart home turned into a wreck when a bankruptcy leaves the IoT fleet permanently bricked and a final story on what happens when immovable object like legacy incident management meets unstoppable force like AI and CRA.

This talk is for anyone working on an embedded Linux product, from junior developers to experienced engineers and managers. Since it is always better to learn from others' mistakes, you will walk away with insights that will help you improve your products.