Embedix

About Embedix

Embedix, originally established as Lineo Inc., traces its roots to Caldera Thin Clients, a subsidiary of Caldera, Inc., formed on September 2, 1998. In a strategic refocus on the burgeoning Linux market, the company was rebranded as Lineo in July 1999, with Bryan Wayne Sparks, a co-founder of the original Caldera, stepping in as President and CEO. The firm was a product of the dot-com era, experiencing rapid expansion fueled by venture capital and a series of acquisitions of companies specializing in realtime Linux, VPNs, and high-availability systems.

Lineo's core business was providing embedded Linux operating systems and development tools for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Its flagship product, Embedix, was a lightweight Linux distribution designed for embedded systems with limited memory and storage, such as handheld devices, digital televisions, and internet gateways. The company's portfolio also included Embedix SDK, a software development kit for configuring embedded Linux distributions, and specialized versions like Embedix Plus for various devices. The business model centered on offering a comprehensive package of software and professional services aimed at reducing development effort, system costs, and time-to-market for its clients.

The company's aggressive growth strategy, which saw its employee count swell from 40 to over 400 seemingly overnight, was predicated on a planned $60 million IPO in 2000. When the IPO was canceled amid the market downturn, Lineo entered a period of decline. Following a recapitalization, the company briefly reformed as Embedix, Inc. in July 2002 under the leadership of Matthew R. Harris. This iteration was short-lived, as the key assets of Embedix were acquired by Metrowerks, a subsidiary of Motorola, in December 2002. The acquisition integrated Embedix's technology into Metrowerks' CodeWarrior development tools, while a number of Embedix employees, including CEO Matt Harris, joined the new parent company. The Japanese subsidiary was not part of the deal and continued as an independent entity, Lineo Solutions, after a management buyout.