"The trick is to fix the problem you have, not the problem you want." --

In this issue:

• Getting Started with C++ for Firmware Developers
  Further Develop Your Embedded Programming Skills this Fall
  Modern Embedded Software Architecture: Beyond the RTOS
  Retake Control of Your Embedded Project Schedule
  Industry News That's Not Boring
  

  Firmware Update is a free, monthly-ish newsletter by embedded systems expert . Firmware Update is a trademark and this issue is Copyright ©2019. You may forward whole issues to colleagues that design embedded systems.  No other uses are permitted.

  
  
  

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  Getting Started with C++ for Firmware Developers

  
  
  

  C++ compilers are widely available for embedded processors, including microcontrollers.  However, the language's adoption rate by other types of programmers.

  
  
  

  Have you thought about moving from C to C++?  With some definite benefits of C++, what's stopping you?

  
  
  

  Why not watch this 1-hour video ?

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Or attend 's hands-on training ?

  
  
  

  Further Develop Your Embedded Programming Skills this Fall

  
  
  

  There are a number of opportunities to learn firmware development best practices in coming months:

  
  
  
  •  (Oct 7-10)
    ® (Oct 21-24)
    (Oct 28-30)
    (Nov 4-6)
    ® (Nov 12-15)
    (Nov 18-21) 
    

    Consult the full  for prices and other details.  Beware that prices increase two weeks prior.

    
    
    

    Alternatively, consider bringing an instructor to your office for an  for your whole team.  Teams of five or more usually find this is more cost effective than attending public courses.

    
    
    

    Register today:

    
    
    

    Modern Embedded Software Architecture: Beyond the RTOS

    
    
    

    A Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) is the most widely used tool/paradigm for architecting embedded software.  But the central RTOS "feature" (preemptive multi-threading) is also the cause of a majority of .

    
    
    

    Importantly, an RTOS is not the only architectural paradigm available.  So-called "active objects" are state machines that cooperate with each other--without requiring preemption or blocking--to process a sequence of external and internal events as they arise.  If this is not a paradigm you are already familiar with, you owe it to yourself and your firmware development team to learn more.

    
    
    

    Start here: 

    
    
    

    Retake Control of Your Embedded Project Schedule

    
    
    

    Is your embedded systems design project falling behind schedule?  Staffed with experienced embedded hardware and firmware engineers, provides embedded systems design assistance and expert guidance to engineering teams and their managers.  

    
    
    

    Barr Group's design team augmentation services include:

    
    
    
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      With a perpetual focus on helping teams get back on schedule and budget, our engineers regularly help companies complete the development of products including: medical devices, automotive systems, cloud-connected IoT products, industrial automation equipment, and mobile/communications gear.​

      
      
      

      Need temporary staff augmentation?  Struggling to find specific expertise?  Need help with development tool configuration?  Want an independent design/code review?  Whatever's stressing you out...  we can help with that!

      
      
      

      Reach out:

      
      
      

      Industry News That's Not Boring

      
      
      

      The current state of wearable IoT devices for healthcare.  Infographic: 

      
      
      

      Xilinx releases new world's largest FPGA with 35 billion transistors, breaking its own prior record by 60%.  

      
      
      

      Want to make elections better (less costly and more representative, e.g.)?  Just add randomness: 

      
      
      

      Stolen fingerprint data could spell disaster for biometric security methods: 

      
      
      

      Are we living in a computer simulation?  "Let's not find out."

      
      
      

      Risks of relying on embedded systems for evidence: Denmark's courts are reviewing "over 10,000 verdicts" as a result of recently discovered bugs in handset location data provided by cell phone infrastructure!  

      
      
      

      More news: 

      
      
      

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      Quick Links to Useful Stuff

      
      
      
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        How to Contact the Author

        
        
        

        I'm always interested in hearing from embedded systems designers and happy to take a few minutes to help you find the resources to get a design done right. Send me an email anytime. And be sure to also connect with me on Twitter () and LinkedIn ().