For the last 30 years, C has been my programming language of choice. As you probably know, C was invented in the early 1970s by Dennis M. Ritchie for the first UNIX kernel and ran on a DEC PDP-11 computer. I am probably a bit old-fashioned. Yes, C is outdated, but I'm simply addicted to it, like plenty of other embedded system programmers. For me, C is a low level but portable language that's adequate for all my professional and personal projects ranging from optimized code on microcontrollers to signal processing or even PC software. I know that there are many powerful alternatives like Java and C++, but, well, I'm used to C.
C is not the only vintage programming language, and playing with some others is definitively fun. This month, I'll present several vintage languages and show you that each language has its pros and cons. Maybe you'll find one of them helpful for a future project? I'm sure you won't use COBOL in your next device, but what about FORTH or LISP? As you'll see, thanks to web-based compilers and simulators, playing with programming languages is simple. And after you're finished with this review of 1970s-era computing technology, give one or two a try! Continue Reading
Recently acquired by Linear Technology, Analog Devices has announced the LT4294 IEEE 802.3bt Powered Device (PD) interface controller. Intended for applications requiring up to 71 W of delivered power, this new Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard (IEEE 802.3bt) both increases ... Continue reading →...»
Analog Devices recently launched the ADF5356, which is a 13.6-GHz next-generation wideband synthesizer with integrated voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The ADF5356 is well suited for a variety of applications, including wireless infrastructure, microwave point-to-point links, electronic test and measurement, and satellite ... Continue reading →...»
Infineon Technologies recently launched "Productive4.0," which is a European research initiative relating to the field of Industry 4.0. More than 100 partners (e.g., Bosch, Philips, Thales, NXP, SAP, ABB, Volvo, Ericsson, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) from 19 European countries ... Continue reading →...»
The RF Solutions high-performance ZETA module was recently updated to include a simple SPI and UART interface. The ZETAPLUS module doesn't require external components, which means a fast and effective plug-and-play setup. Available on 433-, 868-, and 915-MHz frequencies, the ... Continue reading →...»
Adding multiple processing cores on the same chip has become the de facto design choice as we continue extracting increasing performance per watt from our chips. Chips powering smartphones and laptops comprise four to eight cores. Those powering servers comprise ... Continue reading →...»
STMicroelectronics's ultra-low-power STM32L45x microcontrollers (STM32L451, STM32L452, and STM32L462 lines) are supported by a development ecosystem based on the STM32Cube platform. The new microcontroller lines offer a variety of features and benefits: Integrated Digital Filter for Sigma-Delta Modulators (DFSDM) enables advanced ... Continue reading →...»
Q&A: Outside-the-Box Engineering | RPi-Based Monitor | JEADI ARM Pt. 3 | Automatic Control Pt. 2 | Hybrid Cooling 101 | Power Analysis Attacks | Vintage Programming Languages | LoRa Wireless Communication | The Future of Embedded FPGAs | And More
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