What is Embedded System ?
I had discussed this in detail at Embedded Systems and you may find information about my background in the same link. I have put one old memory of Automotive related demo done by me at IIT Kanpur in 2001. The demo was based on Codewarrior tool with evaluation boards.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝘾 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙟𝙤𝙗 ?
Here is one Linkedin survey about professionals with C knowledge. There are non-embedded background professionals as well.
You will be surprised to know that majority of embedded system professionals are managing with C up to pointers only. I also noticed that many working embedded software folks get uncomfortable with linked list question.
Everyone is aware that long term career path in embedded system is with bare-metal and linux
Let me try to explain with some examples. If you observe the job trend in Embedded system , you will realise following :
- If your target is just to get job in any start-up, you can manage with C from identifier till Array, bit manipulation, string , pointers , functions etc are key topics.
- If you are targeting good start-up or small established by companies, you may have to do topics given above but with very good coding skills.
- If you are targeting big companies & MNCs , add at least LinkedIn list, stack and Queue.
- If you are targeting Automotive, add MISRA C .
In addition to all, you must know Embedded C concepts and common protocols like UART, I2C, SPI.
Embedded software has potential of good salaries in future, so target that only. No one will ask you PCB designing in question for that. No one expect fresher to design a new product from day one.
Companies may ask basic electronics and electrical engineering concepts. They also look for logical ability of the person.
One can’t get Embedded Engineer or Firmware engineer or software engineer with basic C knowledge. This is why all training institutes put students for 3 month C mandatory training.
Why C is mandatory?
This is because C is the only high level language closest to hardware. All bare metal drivers are written in C. Linux is written in C. One can easily switch to C# or C++ after C. C# is used in GUI and C++ is used in advance Embedded software .
How much hardware knowledge is required ?
We can divide Embedded system software into following categories :
1: Firmware Engineer
2: Embedded software – MCU level
3: Embedded Software – RTOS level
4: Embedded Software stack
5: Embedded System Kernel development
6: Linux Application development
Knowledge of digital electronics such as various logical gates is must for all above levels. Linux application development doesn’t require any hardware knowledge. One must learn to read schematic and data sheet for firmware level or device driver level task.
What other skills are required for Embedded System Career ?
Khvaahish nahin mujhe mashahoor hone kee,
aap mujhe pahachaanate ho bas itana hee kaaphee hai. Hindi Poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan
About Embedkari
Embedkari Systems is a MSME registered company for online education.
