The Embedded Perspective
June 2, 2006
by Cliff Brake
Welcome to the Embedded Perspective Newsletter, a free monthly newsletter providing insights, reviews, and perspective on Embedded Systems development and related industries. Feedback is appreciated. Email me at: cbrake@bec-systems.com .
For back issues or to subscribe, visit: http://bec-systems.com/web/content/view/39/35/ . These articles also appear on the BEC Systems web site and are available in an RSS feed.
In this issue:
- A Really Nice Hex Calculator
- Opencores SPI Controller Review
- trac and Distributed Development
- Embedded is a Service Industry
| A Really Nice Hex Calculator | |
When working with embedded software, I often have a need for a hex calculator. Over the years I've used a number of different tools. Through college and for several years after, I used my HP48 calculator. It is a great tool. Around 1998, I discovered the Python programming language. As Python supports an interactive session, it works well as a desktop calculator -- I don't think I have used my HP48 since I discovered Python. Recently, I've been using Ruby more in place of Python and am finding it is even nicer. This article presents several tips and snippets of code for using Ruby as a very effective hex calculator. | |
| Read more... | |
| Opencores SPI Controller Review | |
| Recently, I had the opportunity to use a SPI controller from Opencores in a customer design based on an Intel PXA255 processor and a Xilinx CPLD. The customer did not want to change the processor or the CPLD family, but needed an extra SPI interface in the device. I had my doubts, but mentioned I would look into a SPI controller from Opencores. To my surprise, the core fit in a Xilinx CPLD and worked out very well. We have since upgraded to a Altera MAXII CPLD. This review details this effort. | |
| Read more... | |
| TRAC and Distributed Development | |
I have long been a big fan of source control tools and issue tracking systems. The "concurrent" model made popular by CVS is a tremendous benefit any time there are multiple people working on the same project. For most of the projects BEC participates in, we end up setting up a source control system (usually Subversion these days) and an issue tracking system (typically Bugzilla). On one of my recent projects, I decided to try the trac integrated SCM & Project Management tool. Trac brings together several functions into a clean, easy to use web based tool for managing projects. This article relates some of my experiences and the benefits of using trac. | |
| Read more... | |
| Embedded is a Service Industry | |
Linuxdevices.com has recently published an article titled: Let's call Embedded what it is -- a Service Industry (http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT6989225710.html). In this article, Curt Schacker discusses how little growth there has been in the Embedded Systems industry. He claims that most embedded companies are trying to establish themselves as product companies, when the market is really a services market. Having worked for two Embedded companies in the past that went out of business, I think he is right. I have often heard the argument that service companies are too much work, they don't scale, etc. But to me, services has always been a more natural fit for myself and an embedded systems company -- one of the reasons BEC Systems exists.
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| Embedded Perspective Blog | |
The Embedded Perspective Blog -- insights into Embedded Systems development and related industries. Available on the web and as an RSS Feed. | |
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