The very terminology that we use when developing embedded software can set our perspective and have potentially devastating effects on our ability to deliver successfully. The most commonly used term to describe an issue with software is that “there is a bug” or that the code is “buggy”. The term bug implies that there is … Continue reading Bugs and Errors and Defects, Oh My!
Developing embedded software for the internet can be a nightmare. Ethernet chips and peripheral are very complex and require an extraordinary amount of effort and time to configure and setup properly. Driver and example code is usually provided by chip manufacturers but how secure and trustworthy is their code? Simple customizations to the stack can … Continue reading Tools – Connecting to the IoT with the Electric Imp
The ability to update an embedded system using a bootloader is an important skill to master. Despite all the effort placed into developing an embedded system, either bugs are discovered in the field or end users request additional features. In order to update firmware in the field or remotely over-the-air, the embedded system must have … Continue reading 5 Challenges facing over-the-air updates using MCUs
Having the right tools for the job is critical to success but in the hands of the improperly skilled, the result can be disastrous. Firmware engineers require seven essential skills to succeed in todays rapid paced development environment. Skill #1 – Defect Management (Formerly “Debugging”) According to the UBM Embedded Marketing Studies, debugging an embedded … Continue reading 7 Essential skills for firmware engineers
