Summary and thinking on the development of embedded technology

I have been working in embedded development for about a year now, and I feel like I'm finally ready to share some thoughts with you. I remember how frustrated I was at the beginning—struggling to figure out what to focus on and what to learn. I hope this post can help others who are in the same situation. It's also a great way for me to reflect on my own progress, identify my weaknesses, and better understand where I need to grow. First of all, IT is an industry that demands continuous learning. There’s no other field where you're constantly exposed to new technologies and concepts. As the saying goes, "You can't afford to learn a computer," but in reality, it's more like you’re always learning something new. Whether you're working on programming languages, system development, or low-level hardware, there's always something to master. Even basic knowledge like compilers, tools, and software-hardware interactions can be overwhelming. If you don’t understand something, don’t worry—you can always ask on 21ic or similar platforms. The embedded industry, in particular, is quite fast-paced. Standards are often unclear, and technology changes rapidly. What’s popular today might be obsolete in two years. For example, Symbian and Nokia were once dominant, but now Android is the big player. Who knows what will come next? This constant change means that staying updated is crucial. That’s why many people say IT is a young person’s game. It’s not just a stereotype—it’s true. As you age, keeping up with the pace can become harder. So, what kind of technical talent does the embedded industry need? Looking at job postings, you’ll see a lot of requirements. They usually fall into two categories: general and professional. General requirements include things like education, work experience, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. These are important, but they’re often copied from one job posting to another. On the professional side, the list is long. You might be expected to be proficient in control theory, circuit design, hardware drivers, Linux kernel customization, C/C++/Java, DSP, ARM, various OSes like Linux, Ecos, uCOS, WinCE, VxWorks, embedded databases, multi-threading, network protocols, bus protocols, mobile platform development (Android, iOS), assembly, compilers, binary tools, media formats, codecs, communication tech, hardware schematics, PCB design, computer architecture, and bootloaders. The list seems endless, and it can be intimidating. After reading through these, do you feel overwhelmed? That’s normal. But if you look closer, most of these skills are just variations of the same core knowledge. Understanding the structure of embedded systems helps make sense of it all. From a technical perspective, embedded products are typically divided into two categories: those without an operating system and those with one. The latter is becoming more common. The former has three layers: hardware, driver, and application. The latter adds a system layer, making four total. Therefore, the embedded industry needs four types of engineers: hardware, driver, system, and software developers. Each has its own set of required skills. Embedded hardware engineers must understand circuits, components, and design processes. They should be familiar with tools like Protel, PADS, and Cadence. Embedded driver developers need to know both hardware and systems, especially when porting drivers. They should be able to debug and write drivers based on chip manuals. Embedded system developers must understand operating systems, memory management, and file systems. They should be able to modify and compile kernels, write bootloaders, and create root file systems. This is complex, but many tasks are already available as open-source projects. Embedded software developers work closely with operating systems, using APIs and advanced C programming. They should be familiar with GUI libraries, networking, and multimedia technologies. There are also some universal skills that apply across all areas. Basic skills include familiarity with Linux environments, shell scripting, version control (like Git), data structures, and programming languages such as C and C++. Special skills may vary depending on the role, such as understanding digital circuits, operating systems, or computer architecture. Extended skills could include knowledge of communication protocols, audio/video processing, information security, and databases. These aren’t always required, but they can give you an edge. Sometimes, I talk to colleagues about the challenges in the industry. Many companies struggle to find qualified candidates, while many programmers feel unemployable. It's a tough balance. Some job postings seem unrealistic, expecting someone to have decades of experience in a short time. But for those who are passionate about technology, hard work and persistence are key. If you're not afraid of challenges and want to succeed in tech, keep pushing forward. One day, you might look at a job posting and think, “I can do this!” That’s when you’ll know you’ve made it.

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