What is embedded software?

Introduction

Embedded software is a piece of software built into hardware or other non-PC devices. It is written specifically for the hardware it runs on. Because the hardware has limited computing power, it usually has processing and memory limits. Some examples of embedded software are GPS devices, factory robots, calculators, and even smartwatches from the last few years.

Firmware and embedded software are alike because they usually do the same thing. On the other hand, firmware is a type of embedded software written in non-volatile memory (like ROM or EPROM) and can’t be changed easily, which is why it’s called “firm.” Firmware is mostly used to run or boot up the device. On the other hand, embedded software is used to run the device.

Embedded software can be very simple, like that used to control lights in homes, and can run on an 8-bit microcontroller with just a few kilobytes of memory. It can also be very complicated, like the software that runs all of the electronic parts of a modern smart car, including climate controls, automatic cruising, collision detection, and control navigation. Complex embedded software is also used in the avionics systems of planes, the very complicated fly-by-wire systems of fighter planes, and the guidance systems of missiles.

Operating systems

Embedded software doesn’t have to use an operating system like macOS, Windows, or Linux. Instead, it may not use any operating system at all. When they do use one, they can choose from many different operating systems. Most often, they use a real-time operating system. Embedded software is usually written in C or C++, but high-level languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript are now often used to write code for microcontrollers and other embedded systems. Assembly languages are also often used, especially when a computer is starting up or gets interrupted. Some military and airplane projects use Ada.

Differences from application software

Most people are familiar with application software, which gives a computer a function. But embedded software is often less obvious, but it isn’t any less hard to understand. Embedded software, unlike application software, has fixed hardware requirements and capabilities. Adding third-party hardware or software is also strictly controlled.

All the needed device drivers must be included when embedded software is made. The device drivers are written for each piece of hardware. These device drivers, called BSP (Board support package), are a layer of software that includes hardware-specific drivers and other routines that let a certain operating system (usually a real-time operating system or RTOS) work in a certain hardware environment (like a computer or CPU card) and are built into the RTOS itself.

The software depends a lot on the CPU and the chips used. Most embedded software engineers know how to read schematics and component data sheets to determine how registers and communication systems are used. The ability to convert between decimal, hexadecimal, and binary is useful, as is the ability to move bits around.

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