Contiki native and minimal-net targets are built with GCC; and, run in the host Windows or Linux environment. They are useful for development and debugging due to fast turnaround, no memory constraints on debug prints, and reliable network communication.

Both platforms use the same cpu/native/Makefile.native to build the host .exe or .bin image. The native target has several emulated sensors, but no network interface; input/output is through a serial connection. Minimal-net connects to the host Ethernet; the uip_output is trapped and the uip buffer containing ip4 or ip6 packets is transferred through a tun/tap interface (Linux) or wpcap driver (Windows).

• A RPL network on the minimal-net platform
• Setting up Wireshark on a loopback interface