Rating: 
Summary: Great primer on embedded software development, but...
Review: ... perhaps too optimistic on the application of C++. C++, or Object Orientation generally, are at present not suitable for small-scale architectures. And maybe the book should have stressed it, given the fact that many embedded software applications have very strict memory and real-time-responsiveness limitations.But otherwise it is an excellent book!!
Rating: 
Summary: Good intro to DOS or OS-less embedded PC, nothing for Win32
Review: As all other reviews have said, a good introduction to the realm of embedded PC programming. However, it's 1999. I think we're going to have to deal with 32 bit OSs in many (most?) embedded PC applications, and I wanted this book to be more current in that respect. For me, his "middle of the road platform" approach makes little sense: the book is more or less useless to those programming non-PC micros, and pretty outdated in terms of its approach to PC software and hardware. Still, I kept it, and I'm sure I'll refer to it.
Rating:
Summary: Good introduction to embedded systems programming
Review: Clear and simple explanations on the essential of embedded systems, operating systems, and hardware issues; with straightforward code examples.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad for a starter
Review: Considering the content of this book, it will probably be a bore to experienced embedded software developers. However if you are experienced in c++ development for PCs and you want to make the move to the embedded space, this is the book for you.
This is the position I was in when I bought this book and I must say that it was worth every penny. At that time, I just came off a (lame)testing assignment on a popular PDA OS and I wanted to know more details about Flash, EPROM etc.
I also got the recommended ARCOM board. However, be warned that the price has jumped significantly. I also bought the recommended Borland compiler from ARCOM(I didn't want any detail to get in my way)
The advantage of getting the board is the fact that you can try out the examples without worrying about portability issues. However this is an expensive way to go.
If you are a brave beginner, you may want to consider buying the ARM evaluator 7 board which costs less. However you will need to use the GCC compiler for this unless you can afford the ARM developer suite(a 30 day trial copy comes with the ARM board)
This book will definitely get you started in embedded programming. Its a small book so don't expect too much.
Rating: 
Summary: good book
Review: Dear sir & lady: Please tell us how and where can we buy the book in US or China? Edward
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best introduction
Review: From page 18:
"One of the most fundamental differences between programs written for embedded systems and those written for other computer platforms is that the embedded systems almost always end in an infinite loop." For the a novice who might be misguided by this ridiculous statement: many, many, useful programs written on "other computer platforms", including almost all windows programs, are built over an infinite loop. At another point the writer uses his stopwatch to figure out the clock frequency of the microprocessor he is working with and pats himself on the back for being so clever. Once again, for the novice: an embedded systems developer with enough skill to write a book on the subject would use an oscilloscope to make this measurement. And so on. Buy "An Embedded Systems Primer" by David E. Simon instead of this P.O.S. It will serve you well.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best introduction
Review: From page 18:
"One of the most fundamental differences between programs written for embedded systems and those written for other computer platforms is that the embedded systems almost always end in an infinite loop." For the a novice who might be misguided by this ridiculous statement: many, many, useful programs written on "other computer platforms", including almost all windows programs, are built over an infinite loop. At another point the writer uses his stopwatch to figure out the clock frequency of the microprocessor he is working with and pats himself on the back for being so clever. Once again, for the novice: an embedded systems developer with enough skill to write a book on the subject would use an oscilloscope to make this measurement. And so on. Buy "An Embedded Systems Primer" by David E. Simon instead of this P.O.S. It will serve you well.
Rating:
Summary: Embedded System Fundamentals
Review: Good book for an introductory course to Embedded Systems. The book requires you to purchase an ARCOM TARGET 188EB (INTEL 80188EB)board. It does explain in a clear manner the concepts behind embedded system design. I recommended it for those interested embedded systems.
Rating: 
Summary: Concepts for Programming Tiny Operating systems
Review: Having great regard for O'Reilly books, I had expected great breadth and depth from an O'Reilly book titled "Programming Embedded Systems in C & C++". However, this text takes disappointingly small steps towards 80x86 based embedded systems. The ARCOM systems are well designed, but much more expensive than the text would suggest. The chapter on A Decent Embedded OS, ADEOS, does not provide or describe a complete working OS. Jean LaBrosses' texts "MicroCOS II : The Real-Time Kernel" and "Embedded Systems Building Blocks..." do. Better Bang per Buck: Having been a 68xx, PIC and 80x86 programmer for years, I would now recommend ATMEL systems AVR xxxx- Code Composer Studio Free, AVR In Circuit Emulators (ICE) - Inexpensive, C & C++ or other free or inexpensive compilers & resources. THe books by "Embedded Systems Programming" Journal authors are also generally quite excellent - "Math Toolkit for REAL-TIME programming" & TCP/IP Lean being good examples.
Rating:
Summary: This is also a great book for the beginners.
Review: I am a newcomer to the embedded environment with only a handful knowledge of C programming. However, I have found this book very easy reading, comprehensive, and well organized. It provides a very clear idea on how to work with an embedded system without being confusing. To make it better, it sure be very helpful if Barr can include examples of 8051 and its family.
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