"How-to" Technical Articles

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Memory leaks can be particularly risky for long-running embedded systems. Here are some tools to identify, track, and analyze memory leaks in embedded C and C++ programs.

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Which is the most convenient end on your system? The choices are big endian and little endian.

Some human languages are read and written from left to right; others from right to left. A similar issue arises in the field of computers, involving the representation of numbers.

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For those embedded systems that can't be constantly watched by a human, watchdog timers may be the solution.

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Pulse width modulation (PWM) is a powerful technique for controlling analog circuits with a processor's digital outputs. PWM is employed in a wide variety of applications, ranging from measurement and communications to power control and conversion.

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The proper use of C's volatile keyword is poorly understood by many programmers. This is not surprising, as most C texts dismiss it in a sentence or two. This article will teach you the proper way to do it.

Have you experienced any of the following in your C or C++ embedded code?

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The format of non-volatile data may change with a new version of software. Carefully planning data layouts and using data version numbers can make these upgrades easier.

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SRAM or DRAM? EEPROM or flash? What types of memory will you use in your next embedded systems design?

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Embedded systems programmers often value the assert() macro. This article explores the underlying definition of this handy macro, to show you how to roll your own.

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When it comes to safety-critical applications, sometimes you have to protect users from the software. And sometimes you have to protect users from themselves.