Customer Reviews

Fundamentals of Embedded Software: Where C and Assembly Meet

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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!!

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

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.

I realize this is a forum for reviewing books, but I can't help sharing this with all who may be interested in purchasing this particular book. I have read portions of the book and it seems to be heavily dependent upon the CD-ROM written about in the book, but not included! Make no assumption here as the author states IT'S INCLUDED. There's a C library supposedly contained on the CD-ROM in which all the examples in the book rely upon. This library was written by the author and I cannot seem to locate it online. The book demonstrates what appears to be how to take a PC and strip it down for use in embedded control applications. One could also purchase an SBC with an x86 processor and do the same.

I have ordered AND received THREE copies of this book, all of which are currently in my posession awaiting delivery to the post office for return. ALL of which DO NOT CONTAIN AFOREMENTIONED CD-ROM. Without the CD-ROM I find the book useless. Especially given the fact I paid over $100 per copy!

Amazon sent me a canned form letter via e-mail stating the book would be temporarily unavailable while they investigated this issue. I never saw the book unavailable for purchase. And, based on the third purchase a couple weeks later no one investigated the issue either. Therefore, if you're looking for some aggrevation of receiving an incomplete product and the hassle of returning it then by all means BUY THIS BOOK.

I have been teaching X86 assembly language for 6 years as an undergraduate course in Computer Engineering in San Jose State University. The students have been always concerned about the value of this course after graduation. Many have the false perception that learning assembly is no longer needed since most of our programming is done nowadays with high level languages. Last semester I introduced assembly language as a tool to program embedded systems and I used the first few chapters of this book to demonstrate to students the fact that 98% of processors sold are embedded. As a result, most students selected their class project based on one of the embedded examples shown in this book. For students who needed more X86 details, I referred them to a complementary text book. But, for those who needed to understand the fundamental link between c/C++ and assembly, this book was very helpful. I would recommend this book for Juniors or Seniors who would like to have a better understanding of the high level and assembly language interface. To maximize the effectiveness of this book, I recommend the use of more complex real-life design examples, the use of commercial Assemblers, and more emphasis needs to be given for embedding assembly into high level language and vice versa.

As a student in engineering I tend to find books on two extremes, the overly technical, for those who already understand the subject, and those dappled with nice pictures but incomplete in explanation. Both I find very frustrating. Fundamentals of Embedded Software strikes a great balance between these extremes. Although obviously, not meant for first time C programmers, this books includes, in plain English, a *complete* understanding of the fundamentals of Embedded Software from the ground up while supporting its reader each step of the way with comprehensive illustrations. Although this book is a great buy on its own, it doesn't stop there, it includes a CD with everything you need to get started.

Who Is This Book For?: If you are currently very familiar with this subject matter and/or are looking for a quick reference book you may want to move on. However, if you are looking for a strong foundation in the fundamentals of Embedded Systems I highly recommend this book due to its ease of understand and thorough explanations.

I hope you get as much from it as I did!

For a person who is familiar with programming, there is always a dilemma of about "embedded systems programming". "Where do I start?" and "What do I need to know?" are questions that haunted me. Now, I don't claim that this book, or any other book for that matter, will teach me all I need to know about embedded systems. However, I found this book rich of low level details that one tends to ignore at an abstract level of design. These are details like system initialization and understanding boot loaders, which are often ignored at an abstract level of treatment. They are details that are otherwise learned by hours of battling bugs and talking to other programmers in person or in newsgroups.

While the treatment is at a level of undergraduate (sophomore) as the book states, I found the numerous examples refreshing and interesting. There are a lot of details that I forgot and a lot that did not even exist when I was an undergraduate!! Also the accompanying CD with its free software was very useful.

At a first glance, I was dismayed by the exclusive use of X86 assembly in addition to C. Later, I found this to be a convenience considering the ease of finding PC's.

It would have been nice if the book had an accompanying "live" web page that points to relevant resources and has software updates. It would be nice to have a sequel for this book which addresses bigger project using CASE tools and using ARM or Mips tool flow as these are becoming more relevant in the area of embedded systems.

Maybe he's good at this, but he can't communicate it.
I'd rather get a text which enlightens, not mystifies.

I do this in industry for a living, and it needs to
be very simple to operate and maintain - or it'll
never get into the marketplace. "Keep It Simple, S".
Books by Alan Cooper (the creator of Visual Basic
and a past winner of the MICROSOFT Genius
award) are best. THE INMATES ARE IN
CHARGE OF THE ASYLUM is very accessible.

Put simply, this book is terrible. The lack of examples throughout the text keeps those without prior knowledge of the subject from fully grasping the concepts. Dr. Lewis failed miserably with this book. Please do not purchase it unless you would like very expensive fire wood.

This book is just plain awful. The confusing nature of the writing, along with the lack of examples do not teach, but instead confuse. The author does a terrible job in attempting to teach through this writing. Do not buy this book! There are many other books which will benefit you much more by giving you more detailed examples and clearer ideas. This book is just a [money] doorstop. Do not make the same mistake I did in purchasing this book, please.