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Firmware Development

Ankush Khare85
Intellectual 800 points

Hello Experts !!

Can any one tell me exact difference between a firmware development and normal software(source code) development ? 
I checked on the google but not clear with the explanation.

  • 0
    TI__Guru 68920 points
    I would say that 'firmware' typically has to do with the storage and runtime environment.
    Usually you think of Firmware as being stored in Flash or ROM and it's probably 'bare-metal' in terms of runtime environment.

    Some people may consider 'software' as a program that is loaded dynamically by an OS into it's own memory space for execution, like you would see on Windows or Linux and on a processor like a Cortex A with virtual memory support.

    When you get into the world of microcontrollers though - you probably will just use the two terms interchangeable.
  • 0 in reply to Anthony F. Seely
    Intellectual 800 points
    Hi Anthony,

    Thanks for your wonderful and easy explanation.
    Can you give me example of firmware development ? like what things comes under firmware development ? I am familiar with the programming which is loaded in program flash. But what all things are included in firmware development ?
  • 0 in reply to Ankush Khare85
    TI__Guru 68920 points

    Ankush,

    I think most anything you do on a microcontroller could be considered firmware although I would use the term 'embedded programming' instead.

    Just means you are working at a lower level of abstraction - much closer to hardware.   You need to know things like how the processor takes interrupts, and how the memory map and peripherals are laid out.   And usually you interact w. peripherals directly or through a very low level driver rather than through an OS.

    -Anthony