embedded tools

In message , JohnK writes

The only thing you can say about embedded systems is that they are all different. From 4-128 bit systems with 1-100 MCU's that are completely non time or safety critical to very critical hard real time safety critical systems.

The tools needed will vary depending on the MCU(s) and application(s) you are building.

This is true, but some general tools can be used for all projects:

- SVN for version managment (has a nice Windows client: TortoiseSVN)

- bugtracker, like Mantis

- Inkscape for creating vector graphics for documentation

- timing diagram font:

- word processing software. Depends on your system and preferences. OpenOffice is very usable, Word can be used, too. If you want professional output and maybe you have many mathematics, use LaTeX, which is more difficult to use at first, but then easier than the other programs

- spreadsheet program. This is useful for many tasks, e.g. if you want to document the functions and direction of pins, interactive filter testing, plotting diagrams from measured values etc. You can use Excel and OpenOffice

- a math CAS: depends on your projects, but sometimes it can help to simplify formulas or for exploring algorithms. The latest Mathematica version has some nice new features, e.g. you can add controls to your diagrams to test parameters more interactively (

SVN and Mantis can be used for larger projects, too, but is even very useful for one man projects.

Of course, one could always use Forth ;>

One has to think about structures of systems and how the layers would build up but that should already be part of any development effort anyway.