{"id":17119,"date":"2022-12-29T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T13:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finoit.com\/?p=17119"},"modified":"2023-04-04T05:39:07","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T05:39:07","slug":"what-is-embedded-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finoit.com\/articles\/what-is-embedded-software\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Embedded Software? Top Uses and Examples of Embedded Software"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might have set the time in the washing machine and changed the temperature in your refrigerator to make them work as per your requirements. How could you do this all? Well it\u2019s embedded software that helps us perform these functionalities and operate these devices with ease. Since they are embedded in a device, they are termed embedded software.<\/em><\/p>\n

Today, tens of thousands of products contain embedded software systems as their use continues to rise. Growing at a CAGR of 6.5%, by 2031, the global embedded system market <\/a>is expected to reach $163.2 billion.<\/p>\n

The rising demand for ventilators and modern medical equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the embedded software market. Healthcare instruments such as imaging systems, glucose meters, microcontrollers, and others, are used in developing advanced ventilators and other medical equipment, boosting demand for embedded software.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dive into the details of “Embedded Software” and where it fits in the spectrum of “Software”. We also look at how we can build an embedded software and what are its various examples.<\/p>\n

What is Embedded Software?<\/h2>\n

Embedded software is a program that runs on custom-built special-purpose hardware and is intended to perform a single well-defined task repeatedly.<\/p>\n

Common software applications, we come across on a daily basis, such as devices ranging from electrical switchgear to building systems, and software embedded in factory machines are embedded software.<\/p>\n

Simply put, embedded software aims to manage a specific hardware device to optimize its particular requirements and maximize its usefulness to the user. Technically, embedded software can be simple, taking up only a few kilobytes of memory, or highly complex, containing thousands of lines of code.<\/p>\n

What Does Embedded Programming Mean?<\/h2>\n

Embedded programming is a subset of programming that involves the creation of consumer or business-facing devices. The concept of embedded programming is one of the driving forces behind the evolution of digital appliances and equipment in today’s IT markets.<\/p>\n

Embedded programming can also be called embedded software development or embedded systems programming.<\/p>\n

The primary distinction between desktop and embedded programming is in their intended use. Because general computers are used for various purposes, their software can be installed on multiple devices and easily reconfigured. On the other hand, embedded software serves a single purpose and is designed specifically for the device on which it is intended to run.<\/p>\n

How To Build an Efficient Embedded System?<\/h2>\n

Proper embedded software must be written to meet customers’ needs and bring high-quality products to market. Here are the eight steps to creating efficient embedded system software.<\/p>\n

1. Product concept and purpose<\/h3>\n

The embedded product may be required by the manufacturer or customers based on how they believe the larger product should function. Engineers will have to first think about how the embedded product might work and what benefits it might provide. They will also have to estimate how much the embedded product will cost customers or manufacturers.<\/p>\n

2. Establish overall requirements<\/h3>\n

Engineers will determine everything the product requires to function correctly. They’ll consider questions like: What functions does the embedded software need to perform? What are the size, weight, and price restrictions? They will also have to consider the hardware the product will be installed in.<\/p>\n

3. Write down detailed technical specifications.<\/h3>\n

Here, engineers create a document outlining the product’s technical specifications. These will include, among other things, the functions that the product must perform, environmental conditions in which the device is expected to work, and manufacturing requirements.<\/p>\n

4. Determine whether the product requires a user display.<\/h3>\n

Some embedded software requires simple displays to inform users about their operation. Engineers want to know if a product needs a user display to evaluate its specifications. You may be required to create a graphical user interface.<\/p>\n

5. Create a prototype<\/h3>\n

It’s a good idea to build a basic prototype to assess the hardware, identify necessary components, and see how they might work together.<\/p>\n

6. Create the system architecture<\/h3>\n

Engineers create the overall architecture for the product during this step. They’ll discuss the following issues:<\/p>\n