4 ms·

If you have experience with software, learning embedded concepts isn't a huge leap. At least in my area, aerospace, defense, and automotive tend to be the bigge

by badRNG 4y ago

If you have experience with software, learning embedded concepts isn't a huge leap. At least in my area, aerospace, defense, and automotive tend to be the biggest, easiest employers to get started with. They will hire basically anyone with a solid grasp of C, OSes, and basic computer architecture (at an undergrad level.) I find embedded really rewarding. A 20 year old embedded-C code base generally follows the same design patterns and coding conventions and styles that you'd use today, and don't feel "old" or like they need to be rewritten. A 7 year old JS code base, on the other hand, is largely outdated, and may be written in a nearly extinct framework by the time it is your turn to maintain it. If you get tired of giving up time on the weekends so you can learn a new framework, consider hopping over!

hnthrowaway0315 4y ago
Thanks for the tip, that's really interesting. I'm more into lower level stuffs so I'm taking CS courses towards OS and Compiler. I also played with a Tiva launchpad but stopped after failing bit banging multiple devices :D
krapht 4y ago
Heh, or you could be me, and escape embedded. I hate staring at 20 year old legacy C or C++98 codebases, Makefiles and Autotools make me cry, and trying to debug random hardware issues with blinking LEDs or print statements (JTAG access is too optimistic) is something only the most detail-oriented person might enjoy :). I'm exaggerating a little, but more power to those of you who suffer through it!
CodeSgt 4y ago
Know of any companies/industries that have started switching to Rust for embedded?
- badRNG 4y ago
  Honestly no. Pretty much the only folks I've heard talking about Rust are in the application dev space. Generally the space I'm familiar with is lately being called "deeply embedded" to differentiate it from IoT platforms (which sometimes run full-blown Android) Typically the real time space is very conservative on what types of changes are implemented, and that's largely because a lot of rt software exists on safety critical systems that need to be supported for decades.
- steveklabnik 4y ago
  Oxide Computer, my employer, is using Rust for firmware and other embedded cases. Several automotive companies have been hiring for Rust, though what exactly they’re using it for isn’t as well known publicly yet. There have been a few aerospace projects. And at least one train project, IIRC?
- roblabla 4y ago
  It's still too early for Rust in the embedded space. A lot of that space has various certification requirements that Rust doesn't meet yet, and the rest of the space tends to follow too and is very conservative. Ferrous Systems is making some good progress to make certification of Rust happen, through ferrocene[0] and other initiatives, but it will take time. The only company I know using Rust in a sort-of embedded way is SoloKeys[1], using Rust to write the firmware of a hardware authentication token (similar to a yubikey). [0]: https://ferrous-systems.com/ferrocene/ https://ferrous-systems.com/ferrocene/ [1]: https://solokeys.com/ https://solokeys.com/
- ostenning 4y ago
  I know synthesizer manufacturers that are switching over to Rust for their embedded devices, Elektron is an obvious one that comes to mind. There is also some adaptation in the Eurorack space thanks to a lot of open source work done for stm32's, I've built a commercial Eurorack product using Rust. Its pretty great to be honest, I think I would have a hard time going back to C/++

by badRNG 4y ago

hnthrowaway0315 4y ago

Thanks for the tip, that's really interesting. I'm more into lower level stuffs so I'm taking CS courses towards OS and Compiler. I also played with a Tiva launchpad but stopped after failing bit banging multiple devices :D

krapht 4y ago

Heh, or you could be me, and escape embedded. I hate staring at 20 year old legacy C or C++98 codebases, Makefiles and Autotools make me cry, and trying to debug random hardware issues with blinking LEDs or print statements (JTAG access is too optimistic) is something only the most detail-oriented person might enjoy :). I'm exaggerating a little, but more power to those of you who suffer through it!

CodeSgt 4y ago

Know of any companies/industries that have started switching to Rust for embedded?

badRNG 4y ago
Honestly no. Pretty much the only folks I've heard talking about Rust are in the application dev space. Generally the space I'm familiar with is lately being called "deeply embedded" to differentiate it from IoT platforms (which sometimes run full-blown Android) Typically the real time space is very conservative on what types of changes are implemented, and that's largely because a lot of rt software exists on safety critical systems that need to be supported for decades.
steveklabnik 4y ago
Oxide Computer, my employer, is using Rust for firmware and other embedded cases. Several automotive companies have been hiring for Rust, though what exactly they’re using it for isn’t as well known publicly yet. There have been a few aerospace projects. And at least one train project, IIRC?
roblabla 4y ago
It's still too early for Rust in the embedded space. A lot of that space has various certification requirements that Rust doesn't meet yet, and the rest of the space tends to follow too and is very conservative. Ferrous Systems is making some good progress to make certification of Rust happen, through ferrocene[0] and other initiatives, but it will take time. The only company I know using Rust in a sort-of embedded way is SoloKeys[1], using Rust to write the firmware of a hardware authentication token (similar to a yubikey). [0]: https://ferrous-systems.com/ferrocene/ https://ferrous-systems.com/ferrocene/ [1]: https://solokeys.com/ https://solokeys.com/
ostenning 4y ago
I know synthesizer manufacturers that are switching over to Rust for their embedded devices, Elektron is an obvious one that comes to mind. There is also some adaptation in the Eurorack space thanks to a lot of open source work done for stm32's, I've built a commercial Eurorack product using Rust. Its pretty great to be honest, I think I would have a hard time going back to C/++