Programming Embedded Systems, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3. Your First Embedded Program

ACHTUNG! Das machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und corkenpoppen mit spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren keepen hands in das pockets. Relaxen und vatch das blinkenlights!

—Electronics Laboratory Sign

In this chapter, we’ll dive right into embedded programming by way of an example. Our example is similar in spirit to the “Hello, World!” example found in the beginning of most other programming books. We’ll discuss why we picked this particular program and point out the parts of it that are dependent on the target hardware. This chapter contains only the source code for the program. We’ll discuss how to create the executable and how to actually run it in the chapters that follow.

Hello, World!

It seems that every programming book ever written begins with the same example—a program that prints “Hello, World!” on the user’s screen. An overused example such as this might seem a bit boring. Among other things, the example helps readers quickly assess the ease or difficulty with which simple programs can be written in the programming environment at hand. In that sense, “Hello, World!” serves as a useful benchmark for users of programming languages and computer platforms.

Based on the “Hello, World!” benchmark, embedded systems are among the most challenging computer platforms for programmers to work with. In some embedded systems, it might ...