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Issue #191

Dear ,

Welcome back to the Embedded Bytes newsletter!

Everyone says you can’t use AI to develop embedded systems. You’ve been told wrong!

My new workshop, AI for Embedded Developers, shows you how to leverage AI through skills, agents, and MCP servers to augment and accelerate your embedded workflow.

The live virtual workshop will take place April 27 – May 1, 2026, with recordings available.

Learn more and register before March 1 with the code EMBEDDEDAI to save $100 (33%).

Embedded Software Academy subscribers get this course free. Not a member yet? Stay tuned — the Academy is changing soon.

Also in this issue, you’ll find:

• RTEdbg: Open-Source Data Logging and Tracing for Embedded Systems

• EU Cyber Resilience Act Forces Firmware Teams to Rethink Security Strategy

• Industry News and Insights

• Upcoming Industry Events

• Join the Conversation

• Jobs

• Upgrade Your Skills, Processes, and Architecture

Happy Coding,

P.S. You can now register for the Embedded Online Conference and save $145 before March 1st!

Looking for an RTOS that’s fast, safety certified, and easy to use? Discover why

PX5 RTOS is redefining real-time embedded systems.

Industry News and Insights

NEW Workshop – AI for Embedded Developers:

This hands-on workshop provides a practical introduction to using AI effectively in embedded software development. Rather than focusing on theory or vendor-specific tools, the course teaches a systems-level approach for turning AI into a reliable firmware teammate, one that understands your codebase, your hardware, and your development constraints.

We’ll explore essential topics such as:

• Where AI genuinely adds value in embedded development and where it does not

• Designing reusable AI skills for firmware analysis, debugging, and documentation

• Using sub-agents to decompose complex embedded engineering tasks

• Grounding AI with retrieval and vector databases to eliminate hallucinations

• Integrating AI into real workflows using Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Register Now

Note: Embedded Software Academy Subscribers get this course for FREE.

The Embedded Toolbox

RTEdbg: Open-Source Data Logging and Tracing for Embedded Systems

Every embedded engineer has a printf story. You add a quick debug statement, rebuild, flash, and suddenly the timing bug you were chasing disappears. Remove the printf, and the bug returns. It is the observer effect in action, and it has been costing firmware teams time and sanity for decades.

The truth is, most teams still rely on printf-based embedded data logging for runtime observability. It works for quick checks. But it does not scale. Printf consumes CPU cycles, flash space, RAM, and stack. It blocks execution. And once you have more than a few hundred lines of output, good luck finding anything useful.

On the other end of the spectrum, commercial tracing tools like Tracealyzer and SystemView offer powerful visualization and RTOS (Real-Time Operating System) analysis. They are excellent products. But they carry per-seat license costs that many teams, particularly those working on open-source or budget-constrained projects, simply cannot justify. (Even though they should!)

That gap between printf and commercial tooling has been a dead zone for years. RTEdbg is an open-source toolkit designed to fill it. It provides minimally intrusive binary data logging for any

Continue Reading . . .

Upcoming Industry Events

A lot is going on in the industry over the next couple of months. Here are some of the upcoming events, both free and paid:

Join the Conversation

Follow me on LinkedIn for daily tips, insights, and strategies to help you develop faster, smarter firmware. Here are a few recent highlights:

We should learn more from PCB engineers . . .

Why Embedded Engineers aren’t Rushing to Use AI . . .

Jobs

Johnson Outdoors is seeking a CI/CD Engineer to join our Fishing Group (Humminbird, MinnKota, Cannon) in Alpharetta, GA.

 

As a global leader in outdoor recreation, we need an automation champion to scale the pipelines powering our embedded Linux and RTOS-based products. You will own the build systems for large C/C++ projects and streamline the delivery of cutting-edge fishing technology.

 

The key requirements for this role include strong expertise in CI/CD tools such as GitLab and Jenkins, along with containerization technologies like Docker. Candidates should have proficiency in build systems, particularly Yocto (BitBake), CMake, and Make. A solid foundation in Python and Shell scripting is essential, complemented by an understanding of C and C++. See job posting for all details.

 

Apply for CI/CD Engineer, Embedded Systems at https://www.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/careers

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Syntech – Sr. Embedded Engineer

As a Sr. Embedded Engineer, you’ll help shape our industry-leading fuel control and accounting systems by developing Linux-based embedded platforms using the Yocto Project. You’ll work on custom Linux distributions that power our Java/OSGi applications and IoT edge devices, contributing to solutions where Linux plays a central role.

Join us!

myfuelmaster.com

We are located in Tallahassee, Florida. This position is a permanent, in-house (not remote) position.

Syntech is a leader in the fuel/fleet management industry.  We have been in business for 40+ years; solid stable company!  We enjoy a 40-hour work week and a family-friendly culture.  Great benefits including free health insurance for the employee.

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If you’re hiring embedded engineers, let me know!

Please keep it to 150 words or fewer. I reserve the right to edit it to fit the newsletter’s format and intent.

No recruiters, please!

Upgrade Your Skills, Processes, and Architecture

Struggling to keep your development skills up to date or facing outdated processes that slow down your team, raise costs, and impact product quality?

Here are 4 ways I can help you:

1. Faster. Smarter. Firmware: A 2-Day seminar on modern practices for better embedded systems. Doing software the right way means fewer bugs and earlier deliveries. This seminar gives your team the tools and techniques to develop software with fewer bugs in less time by leveraging modern techniques to develop faster and smarter. To learn more, email me at [email protected]

2. Embedded Software Academy: Enhance your skills, streamline your processes, and elevate your architecture. Join my academy for on-demand, hands-on workshops and cutting-edge development resources designed to transform your career and keep you ahead of the curve.

3. Consulting Services: Get personalized, expert guidance to streamline your development processes, boost efficiency, and achieve your project goals faster. Partner with us to unlock your team’s full potential and drive innovation, ensuring your project’s success.

4. Team Training and Development: Empower your team with the latest best practices in embedded software. Our expert-led training sessions will equip your team with the skills and knowledge to excel, innovate, and drive your projects to success.

Take action today to upgrade your skills, optimize your team, and achieve success.