Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design (Perfect Paperback)

by O G Popa (Illustrator), Corollary Theorems (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design is the first book of the HFS series I planned few years ago. My intention is to present the design work simplified, so that the readers would discover that it takes only logic, some diligent work, and little financial efforts for each design phase. The design tools used are only the instruments we need to transform our thoughts/logic/dreams into working reality. --O G Popa

Requirements: In terms of Requirements for working with the LHFSD book, there are none, if you buy it for Reference--this is recommended only for advanced designers. The reader can learn enormously much just by reading the book and the source code files included. However, if you want to gain true hands-on experience using the firmware and the software environments presented, then you need: #1. The LHFSD-HCK kit: you can either build it as it is explained in Hardware Design Part 1, or you could buy it from Corollary Theorems. #2. The MPLAB ICD2: you need to buy this programming tool from an electronic components distributor as is Digi-Key. #3. The 9V/750mA AC/DC wall adaptor: this one comes included into MPLAB ICD2 #4. The RS232 serial cable: again it comes included in MPLAB ICD2 Kit #5. The Visual Basic 6 compiler: you need to buy this excellent software tool; #6. An USB/RS232 cable adaptor. That is all, and you can see it is not much. --From the Inside Flap

There are no other books similar to Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design, and this is not only in the extraordinary extent of the topics presented, but also in the incredibly logic and simple form they take. Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design is, and it is going to be for a long time, the reference book in hardware, firmware, and software design. Good news: LHFSD is the first part in a large series dedicated to hardware, firmware and software design, named HFS. The second book of the series, Design Hardware Firmware and Software Tools (DHFST) is planned to be published fairly soon. Note that the fundamental notions described in LHFSD are not presented again in DHFST, or in any of the coming books; therefore, LHFSD is mandatory. --Corollary Theorems

Product Description
Although it seems to be impossible, "Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design" presents each title topic in adequate details. In Part 1, Hardware Design, is developed an interesting set of hardware modules built around dsPIC30F4011 Microchip controller; the topics explained, however, are sufficient to start working with any other Microchip controller. In Part 2, Firmware Design, the readers learn to write real-time multitasking firmware routines for all hardware modules previously designed. Lastly, in Part3, Software Design, is implemented a simple PC software interface using MS Visual Basic 6, which will monitor and control in real time the hardware and, implicitly, the firmware routines. After two years since it was first published, Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design is still the best in the world. It is exceptional! Please discover Corollary Theorems site for the Table of Contents, Requirements, and for a detailed description of the book. LHFSD explains everything you need to know about Microchip's Digital Signal Controllers. You will learn to design hardware modules logically; you will become an expert in writing firmware; and you will learn to embed the entire power of your PC, with Internet, file management, and advanced graphic analysis, into your firmware and hardware designs. If you are interested in learning true, beneficial skills in hardware, firmware, and software, there is no other book better than Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design. Now, it is only up to you to become a programming/design Guru in the shortest amount of time. Although it seems to be impossible, "Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design" presents each title topic in adequate details. In Part 1, Hardware Design, is developed an interesting set of hardware modules built around dsPIC30F4011 Microchip controller; the topics explained, however, are sufficient to start working with any other Microchip controller. In Part 2, Firmware Design, the readers learn to write real-time multitasking firmware routines for all hardware modules previously designed. Lastly, in Part3, Software Design, is implemented a simple PC software interface using MS Visual Basic 6, which will monitor and control in real time the hardware and, implicitly, the firmware routines. After two years since it was first published, Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design is still the best in the world. It is exceptional! Please discover Corollary Theorems site for the Table of Contents, Requirements, and for a detailed description of the book. LHFSD explains everything you need to know about Microchip's Digital Signal Controllers. You will learn to design hardware modules logically; you will become an expert in writing firmware; and you will learn to embed the entire power of your PC, with Internet, file management, and advanced graphic analysis, into your firmware and hardware designs. If you are interested in learning true, beneficial skills in hardware, firmware, and software, there is no other book better than Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design. Now, it is only up to you to become a programming/design Guru in the shortest amount of time.

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Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: Corollary Theorems; 4th edition (August 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978160444
• ISBN-13: 978-0978160449
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,239,734 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Please do NOT buy this CD-Rom. It is absolutely TERRIBLE!, November 21, 2006

By	C. Noakes - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First, before I even get into why this is so bad, you should probably know that the four "positive" (and only) reviews for this CD-Rom thus far have come from people who have no reviews for any other books. It kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Second, from what I can tell, the author, O.G. Popa, is publishing this out of his home. He's simply making a PDF of what he's written up and thrown that together with some code onto a "business-card-sized" CD (not even a regular CD-Rom) with a cheap printed label.

Third, he mangles the English language! I don't think anybody even took a look at this "masterpiece" before it was published. I could even live with the fact that it's barely readable, but what makes this even worse is that, in addition to this over-priced garbage, the author is actually selling a book on English grammar!!!

Check out the link to his website:
http://www.corollarytheorems.com/

It boggles the imagination!!!

However, the worst part about this, and the main reason for my criticism, is that he does not have a good enough grasp of the subject matter to be writing a book - CD-Rom or otherwise.

For instance, in the book he describes RS232 communication like so:

"The RS232 software protocol is a two-way type of communications - also named "full duplex" - and it can be "synchronous" (in the same time) or "asynchronous" (one at a time)."

What is he talking about!?

First of all, "synchronous" communications involve data and a clock source to "synchronize" (provide timing for) serial communications, whereas "asynchronous" communications derive their timing from the serial data stream itself.

Synchronous and asynchronous have nothing to do with "at the same time" and "one at a time" (as he puts it). I think he's confusing this with full-duplex and half-duplex serial communications. Full-duplex means two-way communication that allows sender and receiver to communicate "at the same time" (like a telephone) whereas "half-duplex" means two-way communication that requires the sender and receiver to take turns "one at a time" (like a walkie-talkie). Simplex communication is one-way communication where only one sends and only one receives. With simplex communication the sender never knows for sure whether the message was received.

This is not just a simple slip up or typo on Mr. Popa's part. This is a lack of basic understanding of a subject that he claims to be an authority on. This, combined with the utterly annoying way this guy brags about his extensive knowledge and experience, is the reason why I feel compelled to comment.

So, don't make the same mistake I did!
I am going to return my copy to Amazon tomorrow. Unfortunately though, I will only be able to get 50% of my purchase price back because I (foolishly) opened the CD-Rom.

Do NOT waste your money on this expensive beer coaster! Save it and by the beer instead. You'll probably still know more about electronics and programming than this guy.

Cheers.

3.0 out of 5 stars Reasonably good book for beginners, but he has a problem with English, November 24, 2008

By	Rhys - See all my reviews

What he is telling is worth reading, but he is really bad with English. Lots of grammer errors.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, hands-on, "how-to" book, January 27, 2006

By	R. M. Baldwin II "R. Mitchell Baldwin II" (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Learn Hardware Firmware and Software Design (Audio CD)

This book really does cover it all, from exactly how to wire up your new dsPIC microcontroller to building an interactive circuit board with a number of interesting peripherals and a Windows® OS front end hosted on a PC. The book follows a logical, step-by-step approach at every level, with the three major sections - hardware, firmware and software - separated to the extent possible. Lots of straightforward electrical schematics covering bite-size functional blocks of the example circuit board are accompanied by simple explanations of how each works. I found several of these immediately useful in current development projects, which made the purchase worth the price right away. There are also numerous working firmware examples, although they are all presented in C - I would have preferred at least some were presented in assembler. The PC software is all presented using VB v6 and the book assumes some knowledge of that MS product and programming environment. If this book has one shortcoming it is with the writing / editing. Although written in English I would venture that is not the author's first language, and I doubt the book was edited by any other than the author as well. The discussion covers the breadth of the subject, though, and that's quite a feat. There isn't much out there yet on the very capable and useful dsPIC family, and this book will give you everything you need to get up and running with this chip set.