You can easily port the code to other architecture with very little modifications.Make use of library functions to reduce the complexity of the main code.Maintenance of code (modifications and updates) is very simple.Consumes less time when compared to Assembly.Some of the benefits of using Embedded C as the main Programming Language: There are other high-level programming languages that offered the above mentioned features but none were close to C Programming Language. Even though Assembly Language is closest to the actual machine code instructions and produces small size hex files, the lack of portability and high amount of resources (time and man power) spent on developing the code, made the Assembly Language difficult to work with. Portability: The same program can be compiled for different processors.Įarlier Embedded Systems were developed mainly using Assembly Language.The hardware should not be slowed down due to a slow running software. Speed: The programs must be very fast i.e., they must run as fast as possible.Size: The memory that the program occupies is very important as Embedded Processors like Microcontrollers have a very limited amount of ROM (Program Memory).The following are few factors that are to be considered while selecting the Programming Language for the development of Embedded Systems. Factors for Selecting the Programming Language In the process of making a better embedded system, the programming of the system plays a vital role and hence, the selection of the Programming Language is very important. There are many programming languages that are used for Embedded Systems like Assembly (low-level Programming Language), C, C++, JAVA (high-level programming languages), Visual Basic, JAVA Script (Application level Programming Languages), etc. There is no point in having advanced Hardware Components with poorly written programs (Software).
During this process, the program for an Embedded System may have to directly manipulate the internal architecture of the Embedded Hardware (usually the processor) such as Timers, Serial Communications Interface, Interrupt Handling, and I/O Ports etc.įrom the above statement, it is clear that the Software part of an Embedded System is equally important as the Hardware part.
The Processor is the heart of the Embedded System and it can be anything like a Microprocessor, Microcontroller, DSP, CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gated Array).Īll these devices have one thing in common: they are programmable i.e., we can write a program (which is the software part of the Embedded System) to define how the device actually works.Įmbedded Software or Program allow Hardware to monitor external events (Inputs / Sensors) and control external devices (Outputs) accordingly. If we consider a simple Embedded System, the main Hardware Module is the Processor. Programming Embedded SystemsĪs mentioned earlier, Embedded Systems consists of both Hardware and Software. Some of the embedded systems in a Car are Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Temperature Monitoring System, Automatic Climate Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Engine Oil Level Monitor, etc.Īlso read EMBEDDED SYSTEMS & ITS REAL TIME APPLICATIONS. A modern day Car has several individual embedded systems that perform their specific tasks with the aim of making a smooth and safe journey. If no new instructions are given for the next wash, then the washing machines repeats the same set of tasks as the previous wash.Įmbedded Systems can not only be stand-alone devices like Washing Machines but also be a part of a much larger system. It takes some inputs from the user like wash cycle, type of clothes, extra soaking and rinsing, spin rpm, etc., performs the necessary actions as per the instructions and finishes washing and drying the clothes.
We use washing machines almost daily but wouldn’t get the idea that it is an embedded system consisting of a Processor (and other hardware as well) and software. A good example for an Embedded System, which many households have, is a Washing Machine.
Basic Structure of an Embedded C Program (Template for Embedded C Program).Introduction to Embedded C Programming Language.Factors for Selecting the Programming Language.