Embedded Technology Journal Update

a techfocus media publication :: March 21, 2006 :: volume II, no. 10

FROM THE EDITOR

I had to say it. I've been in meeting after meeting where C-based design for embedded software was treated as sacrosanct. Sure, C (and also C++, perhaps) see a great deal of use these days, but don't forget that we're in one of the fastest changing industries in history. I'm ready for the onslaught of comments now. Bring 'em on! Babies.

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Kevin Morris – Editor
Embedded Technology Journal

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CURRENT FEATURE ARTICLES

A Bunch of Babies
Embedded Software Developers are Wussies
What Do You Tell Them?
Explaining a Complex Career
Biting Bugs Back
System Level Simulation Speeds Software Debugging
by Peter S. Magnusson, Virtutech, Inc.
Fusion Adds ARM
Actel's Embedded Wonder Gets Smarter
WEPOS Gets to the Point
Microsoft Targets Point-of-Service
How Soft?
Embedded Evolution Challenges Definitions

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A Bunch of Babies
Embedded Software Developers are Wussies

Come on, all you whiners! Buck it up a little bit. If one more marketer from an embedded development tool company pops up an animated PowerPoint slide and starts repeating to me, "Embedded software developers really just want to program in C. Any viable programming methodology of the future has to be C-based," I think I'm going to have to leave the room to avoid pointing and laughing – or worse. Are you all really the bunch of babies that your tool suppliers suppose? If so, I'm sorely disappointed. If not, open your mouths occasionally for something besides those late-night slices of programming pizza. Take a little pride in yourselves and tell these marketers that software developers, and particularly embedded software developers, are smarter, more adaptable, and more determined than they think.

Sure, we've had a few years of comfort where C-based programming could solve the majority of embedded design problems, and we've even developed a respectable infrastructure of tools and IP to support that methodology. We also now have a legacy of previously developed C software libraries atop which we can coast along, just stitching together a few convenient APIs when we want to whip up a quick GUI or database. Our laziness and complacency remain secreted safely away while we manage to look like heroes to management by hammering out new applications with record speed. Times are good, eh? [more]