Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet [Paperback]

Daniel W. Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0130615897 | ISBN-13: 978-0130615893 | Edition: 1

Reflecting current industrial applications and programming practice, this book lays a foundation that supports the multi-threaded style of programming and high-reliability requirements of embedded software. Using a non-product specific approach and a programming (versus hardware) perspective, it focuses on the 32-bit protected mode processors and on C as the dominant programming language--with coverage of Assembly and how it can be used in conjunction with, and support of, C. Features an abundance of examples in C and an accompanying CD-ROM with software tools. Data Representation. Getting the Most Out of C. A Programmer's View of Computer Organization. Mixing C and Assembly. Input/Output Programming. Concurrent Software. Scheduling. Memory Management. Shared Memory. System Initialization. For Computer Scientists, Computer Engineers, and Electrical Engineers involved with embedded software applications.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lewis's writing is clear, and he presents topics in a logical, easy-to-follow order.... I liked this book a lot." -- BYTE.com, April 29, 2002,

From the Back Cover

Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet is a refreshing alternative to the traditional sophomore text on computer organization and assembly language programming. The text approaches assembly the way it is commonly used in practice¾to implement small, fast, or special-purpose routines called from a main program written in a high-level language such as C. By using an embedded software context, the text introduces multi-threaded programming, preemptive and non-preemptive systems, shared resources, and scheduling, thus providing a solid foundation for subsequent courses on operating systems, real-time systems, networking, and microprocessor-based design.

The text will help you:

• appreciate the often overlooked consequences and limitations of binary representation.
• implement fast real-number arithmetic using fixed-point reals instead of floating-point.
• reinforce your comprehension of scope, parameter passing, recursion, and memory allocation.
• employ features of C (such as bit-manipulation and variant access) commonly used in embedded software.
• write functions in Intel x86 protected mode assembly to be called from C.
• estimate maximum data rate and latency for various styles of I/O programming.
• manage multiple threads, shared resources, and critical sections.
• develop programming practices that avoid priority inversions, deadlocks, and shared memory problems.

Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet comes with a CD-ROM containing all the software tools needed to build simple stand-alone embedded applications on an ordinary Pentium-class PC: a C compiler, assembler, linker, boot loader, library, and both preemptive and non-preemptive real-time kernels. Also included are major portions of the source code for a number of programming assignments found in an appendix of the text.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (November 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130615897
• ISBN-13: 978-0130615893
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Languages & Tools > Assembly Language Programming

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the new embedded programmer, March 5, 2002

By 

Wayne Gibson (Plano, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet (Paperback)

While not for the first-time programmer, this book is great for the first-time embedded programmer. To get the most from this book you should already know the "C" programming language. Then this book will take you "down to the metal", covering details and techniques for embedded programming in the "C" language. Much of the information is specific to the x86/PC architecture, but this is a perfect platform for starting out, since you can buy an old 486 or even Pentium for [not much money]. An overview of embedded software programming models concludes with the multi-threaded approach (which is almost universal for larger or more complex systems). This is all great, but the real treasure is the CD ROM, which is keyed to a set of projects in the book. The whole tool chain (compiler, assembler, linker, etc.) is included, along with an embedded PC library which boots the machine, loads your program, starts it in protected mode using the flat memory module (4 gigabyte address space). The library includes an interrupt registration mechanism and a set of display utilities. Also included is UCOS-II with the "board support package" for this execution environment. You can insert the CD ROM and have your embedded program "Hello world!" in less than 30 minutes. If you work through the project set, then you are on your way!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good book, October 25, 2003

By 

xbzz (CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet (Paperback)

I love this book because:

1- Very effective description on how to use C to interface to the Hardware environment that an embedded programmer has to deal with everday. Most of the book on C somehow just gloss over this area.

2- A fundamental introduction to real time OS and its potential problems in an embedded systems. The readers might want to check out the book "An Embedded Software Primer" by David Simon for more detailed treatment on this subject.

3- Its 11 programming excercices using the PC to practice what you learn in the book. This is very useful in building your confidence in the subject matters. You don't have to buy any kits to do the excercices.

Here is the thing that might give you trouble: Intel Assembly language.

This is a small book, 266 pages. It seems the author chose to trim down the section on Intel architecture & its assembly language to keep the book small. I went to the book website (this is another plus) and it looks like the author is using Intel manuals as the companion for this book to fill in the details on the Intel architecture.

If you are a student, having to digest all of this materials (plus other classes) in one quarter, probably, you will have a hard time. However, if you just want to:

1- know how to do embedded programming using C
2- know how real time OS works and how to use it
3- do some hands on excercises
4- can afford to gloss over the Intel architecture and not worrying about the grade.

then this book is for you

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great text for teachers and students., April 15, 2002

By 

Neil Quinn (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet (Paperback)

There are two equally valid approaches to the art of "embedded systems programming", top down and bottom up. Those who choose to use the top down approach will often find themselves at a loss to understand essential items like system initialization and boot loaders. Many developers, who find themselves involved in the realm of embedded systems, have never been exposed to the required low level concepts of instruction architecture, addressing modes, and assembly level data manipulation instructions.
This book provides a detailed discussion of these necessary low level topics as well as an excellent overview of the required elements of an embedded operating system. These elements include concurrency, scheduling, memory management, and shared memory.
The book is definitely targeted at the undergraduate level and provides numerous excellent examples and excersizes for developing and testing the skills of the student. Teachers will find this a well written and useful text for a basic course in embedded software.
While one may think that the exclusive use of X86 assembly and C is a bit restrictive, no one can deny it to be a convenience considering the ease of finding PC's.
The book also includes a CD-Rom containing many useful tools and excersizes for students as well as developers.
The author's excellent writing style should inspire him to consider a sequel to this book which addresses the top down approach to embedded software using UML tools as well as highlighting additional processors like ARM or Mips.