Description
The C++ language has powerful object-oriented and template features that can strengthen software design and portability even as concurrently reducing code complexity and the risk of error. Furthermore, C++ compiles highly efficient native code. This unique and effective combination makes C++ well-suited for programming microcontroller systems that require compact size, high performance and safety-critical reliability.
With this book, Chris Kormanyos delivers a highly practical guide to programming real-time embedded microcontroller systems in C++. It is divided into three parts plus several appendices. Part I provides a foundation for real-time C++ by covering language technologies, including object-oriented methods, template programming and optimization. Next, part II presents detailed descriptions of numerous C++ components that are widely used in microcontroller programming. It details some of C++’s most powerful language elements, such as class types, templates and the STL, to develop components for microcontroller register access, low-level drivers, custom memory management, embedded containers, multitasking, etc. In any case, part III describes mathematical methods and generic utilities that may be employed to solve recurring problems in real-time C++. The appendices include a brief C++ language tutorial, information on the real-time C++ development environment and instructions for building GNU GCC cross-compilers and a microcontroller circuit.
The most recent specification of C++11 in ISO/IEC 14882:2011 is used during the text. To facilitate portability, no libraries other than those specified in the language standard itself are used. Efficiency is at all times in focus and a large number of examples are backed up with real-time performance measurements and size analyses that quantify the true costs of the code down to the very last byte and microsecond.
The target audience of this book mainly consists of students and professionals interested in real-time C++. Readers will have to be familiar with C or another programming language and will benefit most if they have had some previous experience with microcontroller electronics and the performance and size issues prevalent in embedded systems programming.