 With PikeOS, the term application refers to an executable linked against the PikeOS application programming interface (API) library and running as a process inside a partition.Due to the nature of the PikeOS API, applications can range from simple control loops up to complete paravirtualized guest operating systems like Linux or hardware virtualized guests.Software partitions are also called virtual machines (VMs), because it is possible to implement a complete guest operating system inside a partition which executes independently from other partitions and thus can address use cases with mixed criticality.