O'Reilly has updated one of its books about embedded software development. The second edition of Programming Embedded Systems, by Michael Barr and Anthony Massa, covers the latest hardware designs and development methodologies, and features examples based on Linux and eCos, according to the publisher.

(Click for larger view of the ticks on the cover)

In addition to larger ticks on the cover, the second edition of Programming Embedded Systems includes a new subtitle, reflecting a slightly narrower focus. Originally published in 1999 as Programming Embedded Systems in C and C++, by Barr alone, the new edition is called Programming Embedded Systems with C and GNU Development Tools.

Barr and Massa stated, “Each embedded system is unique, and the hardware is highly specialized to the application domain. As a result, embedded systems programming can be a widely varying experience, and can take years to master. However, the one common denominator across almost all embedded software development is the use of the C programming language.”

According to O'Reilly, the second edition's topics including:

• Basic debugging techniques
• Interrupts, and the monitoring and control of on-chip and external peripherals
• Determining whether you have real-time requirements, and whether your OS can meet them
• Task synchronization with real-time operating systems and embedded Linux
• Optimizing embedded software for size, speed, and power consumption
• Memory testing and verification
• Device driver design and implementation
• Real-time operating system internals
• Code optimization techniques

The book includes examples based on both Linux and eCos, an open-source RTOS for deeply embedded systems.

Availability

The 326-page Programming Embedded Systems, Second Edition, is available now, direct from O'Reilly, priced at $50.

In time to provide light, cheery holiday reading, several other embedded Linux books have also recently shipped, including one on MIPS Linux, one by a MontaVista field engineer, and the second edition of an embedded and real-time Linux text book.

 
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