This question stems from a few answers and comments on a question I posted in signal processing found here.
I guess I am a little confused. Are there any concrete differences between realtime software/hardware and just a regular PC?
I would try to list what I think the differences are but the list I have come up with is ambiguous and short.
The only thing I think makes sense to separate the two ideas is that PC software can run part of its code part of the time, real-time runs all of its code each time. So a PC can load a program but not all programs and run just that program for however long it pleases, real-time is just a single program with a bunch of if-else, switch logic basically a huge abstract collection of relays (PLC) that gets ran through every time it is called.
Yes I realize this is a pretty poor description, so I ask is there any good concrete ways to separate these ideas?