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Sponsored by partners who share our mission to advance embedded excellence.
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Welcome back to the Embedded Bytes newsletter!
Most embedded engineers think simulation means running code in QEMU and calling it done. In this issue I break down why that approach fails – and what it means to decouple your application logic from hardware to unlock genuinely faster firmware testing.
Plus: Zephyr 4.4 has officially landed, the SEGGER Flasher SDK is changing how engineers think about production programming, and I sat down with the Embedded AI Podcast to talk about AI-powered development.
Also in this issue, you’ll find:
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Looking for an RTOS that’s fast, safety certified, and easy to use? Discover why
PX5 RTOS is redefining real-time embedded systems.
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Industry News and Insights
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Porting Zephyr RTOS Application to Different Boards
(Beningo.com)
Board portability is one of Zephyr’s biggest strengths – but it doesn’t come for free. In this article I walk through the practical steps for porting a Zephyr application from one target board to another, covering devicetree overlays, board configuration, and what to watch out for when your new hardware has a different peripheral layout.
Continue Reading . . .
Most Embedded Engineers Get Simulation Wrong
(DesignNews.com)
The problem isn’t that engineers avoid simulation – it’s that they couple application logic so tightly to hardware that simulation becomes impossible. This article covers how to architect firmware so your business logic runs on any platform, making testing faster and your codebase genuinely portable.
Continue Reading . . .
Learning AI-Powered Development with Jacob Beningo
(EmbeddedAIPodcast.com)
I sat down with the Embedded AI Podcast to talk through how I use AI tools in real embedded development workflows – not as a party trick, but as a genuine productivity multiplier. We covered Claude Code skills, sub-agents, MCP servers, and why most developers are still leaving 80% of AI’s value on the table.
Listen Now . . .
Zephyr RTOS 4.4 Now Available: WireGuard, Wi-Fi Direct, OpenRISC and More
(ZephyrProject.org)
Zephyr 4.4 has officially shipped. This release adds WireGuard VPN support, Wi-Fi Direct, OpenRISC architecture support, and a long list of driver and subsystem improvements. If you’re already on Zephyr, check the migration guide before upgrading – and if you’ve been watching from the sidelines, this is a good milestone to evaluate adoption.
Read More . . .
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Free NXP FRDM-MCXA156 Board for Every Paid EOC Attendee
Every paid attendee at the Embedded Online Conference (May 11-15, 2026) gets a free NXP FRDM-MCXA156 development board shipped to their door. Two sessions are built around it:
In 90 minutes we will go from a blank BSP to a working Zephyr board support package, using AI to accelerate every step. Practical, hands-on, and you walk away with the board.
Register Now
Note: Embedded Software Academy subscribers get the AI for Embedded Developers course for FREE.
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The SEGGER Flasher SDK: Program, Test, and Validate at One Station
Most production programming setups require separate stations for flashing, testing, and calibration. The SEGGER Flasher SDK collapses all three into one by letting you compile C applications that run directly on the Flasher hardware itself – no host PC required. You can program MCU flash, external memory, FPGAs, and CPLDs, execute board-level tests, and control hardware via built-in APIs for UART, SPI, I2C, and JTAG from a single fixture.
The execution environment is sandboxed (2.5KB overhead), so buggy test code can’t damage production hardware – and the compiled binaries are tiny (the ControlLED demo clocks in at 84 bytes). If you’re looking to tighten your production workflow and reduce fixture changes, this is worth a close look.
Continue Reading . . .
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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:
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| May 5-7, 2026 |
Sensors Converge |
Santa Clara, CA |
Register |
| May 18-20, 2026 |
Open Source Summit North America |
Minneapolis, MN |
Register |
| May 11-15, 2026 |
Embedded Online Conference |
Virtual |
Register |
| June 18-19, 2026 |
Zephyr RTOS Bootcamp |
San Jose, CA |
Learn More |
| September 22-24, 2026 |
Embedded World North America |
Anaheim, CA |
Register |
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Are you 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! Contact me at [email protected]
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Upgrade Your Skills, Processes, and Architecture
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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:
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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]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Want to learn more? Visit our website to find out more about Beningo Embedded or check out our blog to discover our entire article archive—read past articles, search by category, and much more!
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