Learn EMBEDDED-C-CPP with Real Code Examples

Embedded C/C++ provides low-level access to hardware, memory, and peripherals.

Enables deterministic, real-time execution for embedded systems.

Widely used in microcontrollers, IoT devices, automotive ECUs, and robotics.

Supports both procedural (C) and object-oriented (C++) paradigms.

Highly portable across architectures with proper hardware abstraction.

Pointers and direct memory manipulation

Interrupt handling

Timers, counters, and hardware abstraction

Real-time scheduling with RTOS

Standard C/C++ libraries with embedded extensions

Registers - memory-mapped peripheral controls

Interrupts - hardware or software triggered events

Timers - schedule periodic or one-shot tasks

Memory (stack, heap, flash, SRAM)

GPIO - General-purpose input/output

src/ - main firmware code

include/ - headers

drivers/ - peripheral interface code

RTOS/ - OS tasks and scheduling

Makefile/CMakeLists.txt or IDE project

Write low-level driver code in C/C++

Use HAL or SDK for target platform

Implement application logic

Compile and flash to target hardware

Debug using serial output, LEDs, or hardware debugger

Beginner: blinking LEDs and basic GPIO

Intermediate: UART, SPI, I2C communication

Advanced: RTOS tasks and timers

Expert: device drivers and real-time synchronization

Architect: multi-core embedded systems and safety-critical ECUs

Embedded C vs SPARK: C is flexible but not formally verifiable

Embedded C++ vs Rust: C++ allows OOP; Rust enforces memory safety

Embedded C vs Python MicroPython: C is faster and deterministic

C vs Arduino Wiring: Arduino is a simplified C++ abstraction

Embedded C vs SCADE-generated C: SCADE provides model-based verification

1970s - C created by Dennis Ritchie

1980s - C++ created by Bjarne Stroustrup

1990s - ANSI/ISO standardization of C/C++

2000s - Embedded-focused compilers expand

2010s - Modern embedded C++ usage with RTOS

2025 - Current embedded toolchains and IoT frameworks

MCU - Microcontroller Unit

ISR - Interrupt Service Routine

HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer

DMA - Direct Memory Access

RTOS - Real-Time Operating System