 |
For hints, tricks and ideas about better ways to build embedded systems, subscribe to The Embedded Muse, a free biweekly e-newsletter. No hype, just down to earth embedded talk. 23,000 other engineers subscribe. It takes just a few seconds (all we need is your email address, which is shared with absolutely no one) to subscribe to the Embedded Muse. |
Embedded Muse 192 Copyright 2010 TGG March 15, 2010
You may redistribute this newsletter for noncommercial purposes. For commercial use contact info@ganssle.com. To subscribe or unsubscribe go to http://www.ganssle.com/tem-subunsub.html or drop Jack an email at jack@ganssle.com.
EDITOR: Jack Ganssle, jack@ganssle.com
Contents:
- Editor's Notes
- Quotes and Thoughts
- PIC32 Ethernet Giveaway
- Salary Survey Results
- VDC Annual Survey
- Tools and Tips
- Jobs!
- Joke for the Week
- About The Embedded Muse
Editor's Notes
Are you happy with your bug rates? If not, what are you doing about it? Are you asked to do more with less? Deliver faster, with more features? What action are you taking to achieve those goals?
In fact it IS possible to accurately schedule a project, meet the deadline, and drastically reduce bugs. Learn how at my Better Firmware Faster class, presented at your facility. See http://www.ganssle.com/onsite.htm .
John Regehr has written an interesting paper about "volatile" in C: http://blog.regehr.org/archives/28 .
PIC32 Ethernet Giveaway
Microchip Technology has generously given us three of their PIC 32 Ethernet Starter Kits as giveaways. Microchip Technology's PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit provides the easiest and lowest-cost method to experience 10/100 Ethernet development with the 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers. Combined with Microchip's free TCP/IP software, your project will be running in no time. (The PIC32 also has an available CAN2.0b peripheral and USB host/device/OTG.) This Ethernet Starter Kit has the same form factor and expansion connector as other PIC32 Starter Kits. To watch a video demonstration of the PIC32 family featured in this kit, visit: www.microchip.com/get/401347994444444
To make this fun, submit a Haiku about embedded systems or firmware to marybeth@ganssle.com by the end of March. Our team of esteemed judges will pick three they deem the best, using a completely subjective analysis of "user experience". Those lucky winners will get the PIC32 kits. I'll publish the winning entries here.
Quotes and Thoughts
Rick Ilowite sent his original thought: "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it may still not actually be a duck. However, under the current context and within the practical realities under which we're operating, it is, for all intents and purposes, a duck."
Salary Survey Results
The results are in. Go to http://www.ganssle.com/salsurv2009-pg1.htm for the latest salary survey. Thanks to all of you who took the time to fill out the form, and to the many and insightful comments.
A quick summary of the results:
- We're aging.
- But mostly in the West; the developing world's
engineers are generally in their 20s and 30s.
- Though many, many respondents haven't gotten a raise in
in some time, on average engineers' wages are going up.
- Most engineers are unhappier with their careers than 3 years ago.
- Money DOES buy happiness... in some parts of the world.
For example, the highest paid engineers in India and Europe are
happier than those making less. The correlation is strongest in
Australia/New Zealand.
- Despite all of the published doom and gloom, we're quite
optimistic about the future demand for engineers.
- Despite all of the optimism, a lot of engineers are unhappy,
unemployed, and would not recommend the career to their children.
There's also a short but interesting look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics job forecasts here: http://www.cccblog.org/2010/01/04/where-the-jobs-are/ . Bottom line: "computer" jobs (which is an awfully broad category) are expected to grow significantly in the US over the next decade.
VDC Annual Survey
VDC is conducting its annual survey of mobile and embedded engineers. This is your chance to influence key solution suppliers.
The research covers embedded software, hardware, tools, and development practices. Your thoughts will improve our insights into the engineering community and help to influence next generation solutions.
In addition, VDC will provide all respondents who complete the survey:
* Instant access to a summary of VDC's 2009 survey findings;
* Entry into a prize drawing for one of five $100 Amazon.com gift certificates (drawing to be held August 15th, 2010); and
* A summary of the 2010 survey findings once the survey is complete later this year
To begin the survey, go to:
http://vdcresearch.com/survey/10_esdt.html?RID=G
Tools and Tips
Martin Jahn wrote: "As a faithful Muse reader, today I have to contribute a thought regarding your latest Tools&Tips on backup'ing.
"I have a similar backup scheme in place. But I'm currently not using a commercial backup software. Instead, I'm using hand-crafted scripts and at the heart is Microsoft's "robocopy" ("robust file copy for Windows") command-line tool, part of "Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools" (rktools), which can be downloaded from Microsoft. This tool is definitely worth looking at, as a decent replacement for "copy", "xcopy" but also goes beyond (e.g. mirroring feature, as you use).
"Also, I'm using TrueCrypt (http://www.truecrypt.org/ ) - highly recommended - to create an encrypted, single file which hosts a fresh NTFS partition, which I use as my backup destination. This has some advantages: - no trouble with too long pathnames since destination paths will be exactly the same (as opposed to being copied into a subdir on an existing drive), - full backups in a single, archive-like file (but with more comfortable access to the contents via drive letter) comes handy, - encryption saves you from the nightmare if the portable backup drive gets into the wrong hands, - NTFS sparse file support lets you create large enough TrueCrypt partitions which can handle the growth of your data without having the encrypted file wasting unused space.
"The latter point raises a question to the readers: Has anyone found a decent tool which can copy very large NTFS sparse files (>100GB) while retaining the sparse attribute? The only sparse-aware tool I have found so far is the "Copy Stream example application" from Inv Softworks LLC, www.flexhex.com, which still works good for 80GB files but fails with imprecise "out of resources" error somewhere above.
"Another tool tip (not sure if it has been mentioned yet - it definitely deserves to be in the list): The most important of my can't-miss tools for over ten years is Christian Ghisler's "Total Commander" (www.ghisler.com). It's a fast file manager for Windows with numerous features built-in, well-suited for operating by key strokes, boosting productivity. An unlimited, fully-functioning evaluation version lets you try it without hurry and the registration price is very affordable (and includes updates forever)."
Adrian Alexandrov likes Termite: "There's one terminal I've been using for year or so. And it seems to be very handy: http://www.compuphase.com/software_termite.htm . It is a simple rs-232 terminal for windows (works with windows 7, too). Features worth mentioning are:
- different colouring of input and output data.
- logging
- autocompletion of previously-entered commands
- ability to forward data from one port to another so you can use it as a sniffer between 2 devices
- hex mode
- timestamps (which is especially useful for analysing logged data)
- supports non-standard baud rates like 31250 bps and 250,000 bps (never used it, but may be essential for some applications)
- it supports writing your own filters"
Jobs!
Let me know if you're hiring firmware or embedded designers. No recruiters please, and I reserve the right to edit ads to fit the format and intents of this newsletter. Please keep it to 100 words.
Three new positions at MAXLINEAR, INC in San Diego, CA, immediate hire,
full-time: Embedded developers (~5 years embedded development experience or focused M.S./Ph.D.) and Embedded Architect (~10+ years embedded development experience). Smaller & profitable fab-less semiconductor company in growth spurt. Good growth potential within the software team. Work on new wireless/broadband communication SoC's for consumer applications developed by in-house ASIC and RF team. Required: solid focus in firmware and low level debugging at pin level; C and assembly for RISC cores; multi-core/multi-processor systems; peripheral drivers and communication (USB/SPI/SDIO/TDM/I2C); Real-time operating systems; solid documentation and development system skills. Optional: DSP filtering, image processing, layer 2/3 protocols, GNU/Linux as embedded O/S, Win32 drivers. Email jcline@ieee.org for immediate response from the engineering team. **Include both resume and cover letter highlighting relevant prior projects, with the subject line: MAXLINEAR EMBEDDED.
Continuum (www.dcontinuum.com) in Newton, MA is looking for two people. Contact Adam Casey, acasey@dcontinuum.com:
** Software-Hardware Test Engineer **
This is a two-fold position. The candidate's primary responsibilities will be developing and performing all software testing, including unit tests using scripting languages. The candidate will oversee and execute the firmware/software quality process at Continuum, and have a central role in its ongoing refinement. He or she will be responsible for the verification and validation of embedded software and systems to detailed requirements. Knowledge of software test practices is a plus.
Secondary responsibilities will be electronic hardware design, including schematic capture, overseeing board layout and prototyping, hardware testing, and integration with firmware and mechanical systems.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering and 1-3 years experience digital hardware design experience.
** Embedded Systems Engineer II **
The candidate's primary responsibilities will be developing firmware and software for embedded applications. Platforms vary from small 8-bit microcontrollers to 32-bit microprocessors. Knowledge of real time operating systems and adherence to code standards and best practices are essential. Using oscilloscopes, digital multi-meters, function generators, and spectrum analyzers for debugging and development must be second-nature.
Secondary responsibilities will be development of software for non-embedded platforms. These may include web-based applications, desktop applications for various operating systems, or applications designed for mobile platforms.
Tertiary responsibilities may include electronic hardware design, schematic capture, overseeing board layout and prototyping, hardware testing, and integration with firmware and mechanical systems.
B.S. in Electrical Engineering and 2-4 years embedded firmware development experience.
Crestron Electronics, the world's leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems, is looking for talented embedded developers. We have been hiring Engineers steadily through the recent economic downturn and have in excess of 200 Engineers located in our brand new Research and Development Center in Rockleigh, NJ.
Are you a motivated embedded developer? Do you understand and work with Real Time OS's on a regular basis? Do you have experience with Nucleus, or Windows CE? Do you understand Ethernet network stacks? Zigbee networking? I2C, SPI and other hardware bus protocols?
We are hiring and all levels of experience!
Note: You must be legal to work in the United States without sponsorship.
If you want a great career in a thriving company developing leading edge products please send an email with the Subject: Firmware Developer Candidate, an introduction and your resume to: Careersnow@crestron.com.
For more information visit our website: www.Crestron.com
Joke for the Week
Thanks to Jeanne Petrangelo for this: The cause of Toyota's stuck as pedal: I wasn't surprised to hear it might be a firmware problem. What could possibly cause a rare and intermittent stuck gas pedal than.... a race condition?
[give it a minute if you didn't get it]
About The Embedded Muse
The Embedded Muse is a newsletter sent via email by Jack Ganssle. Send complaints, comments, and contributions to me at jack@ganssle.com.
The Embedded Muse is supported by The Ganssle Group, whose mission is to help embedded folks get better products to market faster. We offer seminars at your site offering hard-hitting ideas - and action - you can take now to improve firmware quality and decrease development time. Contact us at info@ganssle.com for more information.
|
