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Designing Embedded Hardware
Intelligent readers who want to build their own embedded computer systems-- installed in everything from cell phones to cars to handheld organizers to refrigerators-- will find this book to be the most in-depth, practical, and up-to-date guide on the market. Designing Embedded Hardware carefully steers between the practical and philosophical aspects, so developers can both create their own devices and gadgets and customize and extend off-the-shelf systems.There are hundreds of books to choose from if you need to learn programming, but only a few are available if you want to learn to create hardware. Designing Embedded Hardware provides software and hardware engineers with no prior experience in embedded systems with the necessary conceptual and design building blocks to understand the architectures of embedded systems.Written to provide the depth of coverage and real-world examples developers need, Designing Embedded Hardware also provides a road-map to the pitfalls and traps to avoid in designing embedded systems. Designing Embedded Hardware covers such essential topics This invaluable and eminently useful book gives you the practical tools and skills to develop, build, and program your own application-specific computers.
352 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 18, 2017
I could not have been more impressed with this book. It covers everything from soldering to USB interfaces. Despite covering an enormous "surface area" of topics, it still manages to have examples, schematics, and practical advice for just about everything. Astonishing!
The book has brief coverage of a large variety of hardware peripherals, interfaces, power supplies, memory, etc. There is advice for using wire-wrap, oscilloscopes, and how to make PCBs. There are explanations of assembly and the Forth language (in an excellent little summary). There are separate chapters for, what, four different common microcontroller architectures? There is even a primer on the fundamentals of electronics and basic components such as resistors and capacitors. It's incredibly broad.
Of course this book couldn't possibly have delved deeply into any given topic but to be honest, most of that is best left to Internet searches or product data sheets and the book explains how to read those.
All of this is done with confidence and good humor. Technical terms are explained as they are introduced. I am just really, really impressed with Catsoulis as an author.
Ironically, it was this book that finally convinced me that I am not at a point in my life when I can try my hand at this stuff. I have devoted my precious free time to other activities and I do not currently have a free slot in my day for hardware experiments. If I tried to do it, but it would be at the expense of something else. Nevertheless, I'm very glad I read this because I learned so much. When I do have time in my life for hardware, I will definitely be re-reading this book!
The book has brief coverage of a large variety of hardware peripherals, interfaces, power supplies, memory, etc. There is advice for using wire-wrap, oscilloscopes, and how to make PCBs. There are explanations of assembly and the Forth language (in an excellent little summary). There are separate chapters for, what, four different common microcontroller architectures? There is even a primer on the fundamentals of electronics and basic components such as resistors and capacitors. It's incredibly broad.
Of course this book couldn't possibly have delved deeply into any given topic but to be honest, most of that is best left to Internet searches or product data sheets and the book explains how to read those.
All of this is done with confidence and good humor. Technical terms are explained as they are introduced. I am just really, really impressed with Catsoulis as an author.
Ironically, it was this book that finally convinced me that I am not at a point in my life when I can try my hand at this stuff. I have devoted my precious free time to other activities and I do not currently have a free slot in my day for hardware experiments. If I tried to do it, but it would be at the expense of something else. Nevertheless, I'm very glad I read this because I learned so much. When I do have time in my life for hardware, I will definitely be re-reading this book!
April 8, 2010
A common joke:
The 3 most dangerous things against your completing your project:
1. A Programmer with a soldering iron.
2. A Manager who programs.
3. A User with ideas.
Ok, I'm only talking about #1. Most software guys know how to do two things: drink coffee and blame the hardware guy. But if you're one of those special souls that wants to actually learn but doesn't want to feel like you're starting college all over again... this is the book for you.
Reading schematics, doing minor rework, getting a good general idea of all the hardware-level communication protocols and... yes, it has a blurb on how to solder.
The 3 most dangerous things against your completing your project:
1. A Programmer with a soldering iron.
2. A Manager who programs.
3. A User with ideas.
Ok, I'm only talking about #1. Most software guys know how to do two things: drink coffee and blame the hardware guy. But if you're one of those special souls that wants to actually learn but doesn't want to feel like you're starting college all over again... this is the book for you.
Reading schematics, doing minor rework, getting a good general idea of all the hardware-level communication protocols and... yes, it has a blurb on how to solder.
May 25, 2020
Definitely a recommended primer
December 9, 2022
Good book overal
January 1, 2022
this book turned out to be just the sort of introduction I thought it would be, and what it advertised - enough to get you interested & started. I freaked out a bit when they started discussing 68000 chips for embedded systems. I wonderfully used 68000 chips for full fledged, advanced desktop computers.
Like all O'Reilly books, of course, this one assumes a good bit of agile intelligence of its reader.
Like all O'Reilly books, of course, this one assumes a good bit of agile intelligence of its reader.
June 17, 2008
I have this not so secret wish to be an embedded systems developer. I also like to know what's going on inside the devices I'm developing for. This book gave me a lot of insight into that and made me at least believe that if I put the effort into it, I could probably design a simple embedded device. It's also full of tips that would likely be useful to any electronics hobbiest.
September 11, 2016
a powerful introduction to embedded hardware design , very useful for software programmers and system architects who want be aware of hardware design aspects .
To make use of this book , you will need to involve more in practical hardware design through real-life projects .
To make use of this book , you will need to involve more in practical hardware design through real-life projects .
November 13, 2011
Good book for a refresher in embedded, someone operating at a higher level, not the true hands on person, they would need a deeper/more detailed book but the program/project manager this is ideal.
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March 29, 2015now i can read
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews