Embedded Software

First of all, just what is embedded software?

Embedded software is a program designed to run on product from the moment it is switched. You, the user, will not have an option to change or alter this program. The humble TV remote control will have embedded software and each time you press a button on the remote the device wakes up, checks which button or buttons you pressed, sends the appropriate code to the TV and then goes back to sleep.

Compare this to a desktop PC where many programs are loaded onto the machine and the user chooses which one to load and run depending on which task they want to perform; a web-browser to surf the net, a word processor to write articles or letters, a video player to watch DVDs, the list goes on.

Many developments use C as the programming language especially where the target is 8 bit. The increasing availability of 32 bit devices has resulted in increasing use of C++. Often the language is used as a “super-C” without taking full advantage of the object oriented features available in C++.