Getting Started with TI FreeRTOS

From zero to fluent in two days

Getting Started with TI FreeRTOS

Getting Started with TI FreeRTOS quickly teaches production-level skills to craft code on any platform that supports FreeRTOS. Developed in association with Texas Instruments, this in-depth workshop provides hands-on, accelerated learning that takes you from zero to fluent in just days—saving weeks or months of development time.

Supported TI MCUs are listed to the left. If your device is not supported, keep in mind that any user on any TI platform that supports FreeRTOS will learn a great deal about the kernel because most materials and labs focus on FreeRTOS, not architecture.

Two workshops for the price of one! The FreeRTOS workshop is bundled with Getting Started with TI MCUs—a prerequisite that teaches bare-metal programming fundamentals required before using FreeRTOS on a TI MCU. If you are a bare-metal MCU user and don’t need an RTOS, you can purchase just the MCU workshop.

ENROLL NOW

Supported TI MCUs
MSPM0
CC1352
CC2340
CC3220
F28379D
AM243x
MSP432E401Y

This workshop includes ALL targets listed—seven microcontroller families.

FreeRTOS Workshop DATA SHEET

I only want the MCU Workshop

What you learn

How to use bare-metal programming and drivers to program peripherals such as GPIO, interrupts, and timers—in the prerequisite Getting Started with TI MCUs workshop included with Getting Started with TI FreeRTOS.
How to successfully install Code Composer Studio (CCS), Software Development Kit (SDK), and verify the tools have been installed properly
In-depth, extensive hands-on use of CCS and TI’s software driver libraries (driverlib, SDK, etc.)
Working knowledge of the FreeRTOS Kernel and the various thread types—tasks, software timers, idle and hardware interrupts and why/when to use them
How the device hardware (interrupts and timers) interact with FreeRTOS
How to create a new FreeRTOS-based CCS project using dependent or independent FreeRTOS configuration projects
Program peripherals such as GPIO to toggle an LED on the target hardware
How to use additional FreeRTOS services such as Semaphore, Queue, Software Timers, Events

Coming Soon: Bonus FreeRTOS Topics

The following bonus topics will be added to the current FreeRTOS workshop in 2H 2026.

Using Mutexes Learn how to handle critical sections and priority inversion using mutexes
Using StreamBuff Ideal for passing byte streams from an interrupt to a task or between cores on a multi-core processor
Using MessageBuff Used to pass variable-length messages between a single sender and a single receiver
Using Hardware Interrupts Learn how to use FreeRTOS with hardware interrupts

“For a 6-month development project, expect this training to save you 1-2 weeks up front and 2-3 weeks or more on the back end—easily paying for itself many times over.”

— Kurt Furlong, Engineering Manager, LSR, Cedarburg, WI

Your one-stop solution

COST EFFECTIVE
Get up to speed in days instead of weeks and accelerate time to market

PRODUCTION-LEVEL SKILLS
Confidently build clean, high quality code that is easy to maintain and reuse

FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Train at any pace or level—novice to expert

EXPERT CLEAR INSTRUCTION
Learn from experienced engineer/instructors who walk step-by-step through practical details that make things work

HANDS-ON LABS
Apply concepts with hands-on, tested labs that work the first time

CODE FRAMEWORKS
Use our building blocks to get a head start on your application.

UP-TO-DATE CONTENT
Use the latest software, tools, and hardware with regular workshop updates

LIFETIME AVAILABILITY
Keep on-demand access for the the lifetime of the course

Who’s teaching

ENROLL NOW

While working for Texas Instruments, Eric Wilbur and Scott Specker created and taught the TI-RTOS workshop to customers worldwide. Since 2021, they redesigned that class for FreeRTOS and have continued to update and offer this course in association with Texas Instruments. As TI has introduced new MCUs to the market, Eric and Scott have kept up with the latest products and support/test almost all TI MCUs using the latest SDKs and CCS versions.

Eric Wilbur & Scott Specker, Workshop Authors/Instructors

MASTER INSTRUCTORS
Eric and Scott each have 10,000+ hours classroom experience training 4,000+ engineers at over 70 companies on DSPs, MCUs, MPUs, RTOS, and Linux O/S.

EXPERT DEVELOPERS
As course developers, they have created over 30 multi-day workshops as well as thousands of pages of user manuals, start-up guides, app notes and wiki pages.

EXPERIENCED ENGINEERS
Eric and Scott have each worked in the industry for 30+ years, helping customers navigate hundreds of processors, development kits, software packages, and operating systems.

“...clearly an expert in the subject matter and dynamic in his presentation skills, always keeping the audience engaged and interested. ”

— Brian Bell, Technical Sales Representative, Texas Instruments, Rochester, NY

What you need

HARDWARE
Computer/laptop and Launchpad or EVM on desired target (purchase from TI eStore)

SOFTWARE
Code Composer Studio (CCS) v12+ and target software development kit (SDK)

COURSE ACCESS
$197 individual enrollment required for each student (includes TI MCU workshop)

REQUIRED TIME
16-24 hours to completion at your own pace

What you get

AVAILABILITY
instant access for course lifetime

LECTURES
58 on-demand video lectures

VIDEO
13 total hours video instruction

LABS
17 written
hands-on labs

PDF MANUAL
downloadable for individual use

SUPPORT
ask questions by comment or email

ENROLL NOW FOR $197

Already purchased a workshop?

Workshop Login

What our students say

Click < > arrows to the right to see more testimonials

worth every penny!

…has a phenomenal ability to make really complicated, hard-core engineering material simple and reliable. As a teacher, he has a unique capacity to keep the class as a whole moving while, at the same time, addressing the specific needs of individual students…After his classes, engineers know without any doubt that Eric just saved them months and months of aggravation…Worth every penny!

—Henry Sharpe, President, Bluewater Designworks, LLC

breath of fresh air

…the interactive way he runs his course is OUTSTANDING. His style of ‘Life is a blank page—so that’s where we will start,’ was a breath of fresh air. He also used varied mediums to get his points across…a passionate instructor who cares more about his audience than simply getting through the material…This method vs ‘death by powerpoint’ was day and night.

—Firmware Engineer, Denver, CO

facilitates maximum learning

…implements a methodical approach to developing and delivering technical training... providing a focused, content-rich immersion experience for the students...this environment facilitates maximum learning...saving time and money.

—Brandon Azbell, Applications Manager, Texas Instruments, Schaumburg, IL

up and running in TWO short days

…blew us away—he made the technical concepts come alive with analogies, stories, and WHY the topic was important. Not only was it fun to learn from him, he got us up and running in TWO short days which…helps us decrease our time to market and also gives us a context to learn other details not covered in the workshop. Most of the engineers commented “best workshop and instructor EVER.”

—Ardan Keohane, Design Engineer, Telephonics, Columbia, MD

deep insight into the mindset of an engineer

As an attendee in Eric’s workshops, I have observed his deep insight into the mindset of an engineer. When combined with authentic listening skills, he leverages his understanding of technical audiences with his skill as a seasoned instructor to nimbly adapt the content to meet the expectations of his students, even when those needs are highly variable within a single classroom.

—Rob Hillard, Instructional Designer, Texas Instruments, Germantown, MD

best instructor I have ever seen

The learning environment that Eric created was OUTSTANDING. He is the best instructor I have ever seen...I have never seen an engineer care so much that each of us learn the topics and have success.

—Max Noda, Engineer, LumaSensInc

course is laid out with a very logical progression

Eric is a very good communicator. His course is laid out with a very logical progression, just like a design engineer would take. He is organized, and has interesting stories that make a point and bring home the idea. He seemed to anticipate the kinds of questions we would ask and often had them answered before they were asked.

—Dave Siegler, Firmware Engineering Manager, Rockwell Automation, Mequon, WI

every student achieved what they expected

Eric taught at our facility numerous times and adapted his content to make sure that every student achieved what they expected out of the training. Eric is always one of the most prepared, most entertaining, and most enriching presenters.

—Jason Haedt, Field Applications Engineer, Avnet, Pewaukee, WI

shorter ramp-up time for students

…one of those rare engineers who has the ability to connect with a technical audience in a way that inspires and motivates…a fantastic teacher of technical information, and that means a shorter ramp-up time for students. I highly recommend for audiences who want an expert from the field who fundamentally knows how to relate to his students.

—William Hohl, Author of ARM Assembly, Senior Member IEEE

has this ability to speak our language

…an extremely knowledgeable instructor…kept us all engaged and entertained with great stories! I could not believe the amount of interaction he was able to get out of relatively quiet engineers—he has this ability to speak our language, identify where our confusion areas are, take the time to customize pieces dynamically and truly answer our questions. He made US the hero.

—Design Engineer, Houston, TX

encourage you to put new material to use

…outstanding presenter of technical material. His command of the material is always apparent, and brings immediate credibility with the audience. He has a razor sharp wit, which allows him to inject just the right amount of humor at just the right time, and thus keep everyone’s attention...You might think you could learn the same material just as well from a book. And you would be wrong. Eric is a master at creating hands-on exercises that encourage you to put new material to use right away…There is no better way to get a jump start.

—George Mock, Engineer, Texas Instruments, Houston, TX

extremely effective and valuable

…very experienced technical instructor and engineer...the combination makes this training extremely effective and valuable

—Joseph Stagnitto, Senior Design Engineer, X-ray Solutions, Carestream Health, Rochester, NY

dynamic, fluid, entertaining

…taught the workshop in a very dynamic, fluid, entertaining way. I have never seen a more knowledgeable and prepared instructor…methods of instruction are second to none—truly excellent. Throughout the workshop, he was truly concerned about meeting our specific needs...and did so.

— Software Engineer, Motorola, Phoenix, AZ

the gold standard

When it comes to technical training, Eric is the gold standard. Many instructors may understand the material they are presenting, but few possess Eric’s ability to keep the audience engaged so that the material is fully absorbed. Every audience is different, and Eric is able to adapt on the fly to ensure that everyone gets full value out of the session.

—John Stevenson, Applications Manager, Texas Instruments, Toronto, ON

clearly an expert on the subject matter

Eric is clearly an expert in the subject matter and dynamic in his presentation skills, always keeping the audience engaged and interested. Eric’s ability to deal with different personality types is also very impressive. I truly think Eric’s only agenda is helping others.

—Brian Bell, Technical Sales Representative, Texas Instruments, Rochester, NY