3 ms·
Small embedded systems. There are microcontrollers that cost like 3 cents in bulk. 8-bit machines with a few kilobytes of PROM and perhaps just 64 bytes of RA
by retrac 3y ago
Small embedded systems. There are microcontrollers that cost like 3 cents in bulk. 8-bit machines with a few kilobytes of PROM and perhaps just 64 bytes of RAM. While such machines often do have C compilers (of a sort) for them, old-school optimization techniques sometimes come into play.
- lost_tourist 3y agoI used to enjoy that stuff, but these days if it seems like a job requires any significant assembly, I just turn it down. I hate worrying about every single byte of memory, it takes all the fun out for me, but I do know those who love figuring out a tough problem and always having to be efficient with every bit and byte.
- aidos 3y agoThere are tough problems at every layer of the stack. Granted, the problems look very different, but they’re no less challenging. I think that is one of the great things about being a software developer - wherever you look, there are interesting things to explore. I studied assembly some 20+ years ago and have barely seen it since, though I’ve worked on a lot of complex technical problems since then.
- mysterydip 3y agoThat's me. I love figuring out more memory-efficient or less-cycle-use ways to do the same thing on my microcontrollers. Save x bytes here to add new feature y. Maybe it's nostalgia for an era of programming I missed out on (80-90s DOS game development)? Or it just scratches some itch in my brain.
- JohnFen 3y agoHeh, different strokes for different folks. For me, the closer I am working to the metal, the more I enjoy the work. I especially enjoy squeezing every drop out of the system, so worrying about every byte, and minimizing cycles, is part of the fun.