Embedded Systems Firmware Demystified (With CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Ed Sutter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

* Understand essential hardware details * Walk through an embedded system startup * Build an extensible development platform * Prebuilt GNU X-Tools for 21 platforms Build embedded microprocessor-based systems from the ground up. Develop an integrated und

Explore firmware development from cold-boot to network-boot. Investigate CPU-to-peripheral interfaces. Write a powerful CLI, flash drivers, a flash file system and a TFTP client/server. Includes a cross-compilation toolset for 21 processors and source for an extensible firmware development platform.

Editorial Reviews

Review

..".a much-needed book that helps convert a competent C programmer into an embedded whiz. It includes a useful monitor coupled to a slick flash file system, useful for novice and experienced developer alike."

About the Author

Ed Sutter started his career with AT&T Bell Labs in 1981. Now a distinguished member of the technical staff (DMTS) at Lucent, he has been working in embedded systems since 1983. Starting with the 8085, Ed has worked with a wide range of systems over the years including most of today's common CPU architectures. He has put his experience in developing hardware, firmware, and software to good use by building several different development environments. While he is most comfortable with C and assembly language on embedded systems, he has developed code for Win32 and Unix varieties as well. His firmware tools have recently been the subjects of articles in Embedded Systems Programming and Circuit Cellar OnLine magazines.

Product Details

• Paperback: 366 pages
• Publisher: CMP (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578200997
• ISBN-13: 978-1578200993
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Multimedia Information Systems

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Micromonitor Source Code With Comments, March 27, 2002

By 

James D Rickman JR (Cary, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embedded Systems Firmware Demystified (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

The bulk of Embedded Systems Firmware Demystified consists of source code listings for the author's "Micromonitor" generic embedded operating system and comments. Chapters not dealing with this code are very informative, but lack graphics and photos. The author's extensive and valuble experience shines through and makes great reading, but overall the book did not demistify firmware for me.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Topics for Embedded Systems Programmers!, February 1, 2002

By 

Sung Won Ho (Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Embedded Systems Firmware Demystified (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

This book deals with good topics for embedded systems programmers
That includes Ethernet Drivers, Internet Protocols, Flash drivers, Flash File systems, and so on..
These topics are so crucial for modern embedded systems programmers.
I haven't ever seen this kind of book before.

Of course, all these topics can't be fully discussed in one book.
The author, however, suggests good starting point for each topics with concrete, well structured, source codes which are modules of Monitor porgram called MicroMointor.

If you are embedded engineer or student who want to be the one,
don't hesitate to buy and read this book.
This book is must a have book for embedded systems programmers.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From a Hardware Engineer, June 24, 2002

By 

Clark F. Molster (Newbury Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embedded Systems Firmware Demystified (With CD-ROM) (Paperback)

As a hardware engineer using mostly PowerPC assembly, I bought this book at the ESC in S.F. looking to learn embedded C programming techniques. Though the book itself is informative, the micro-monitor software on the included CD-ROM is what really makes this book worth the money. It's got a serial port command line interface, an ethernet driver (pseudo-sniffer), a flash-file system etc., and I was able to get it up and running pretty much out of the box (the GNU tools and the makefile are a little testy, but the package is complete).
I had help from our senior software engineer, but I worked pretty hard learning and porting the code. I advise anyone interested in using this software to get one of the evaluation boards (numerous platforms are supported) such as Motorola's MPC8XXFADS board, and get it up and running before attempting a port. A good low-level debugger (BDM interface) helps huge.
If you're not a fluent C-programmer, get a good book (Kernighan and Ritchie's "The C- Programming Language" is what I used). This software will force you to learn it well. Don't depend on the text for answers. You've got to read a lot of source code.
I'm very pleased with what I've learned, and with the functionality and robustness of the software. It was worth the effort. Our senior software engineer is impressed with the overall program design as well.
So get ready to get your hands dirty...