Gain insights into using Modern C++ for embedded programming. Learn about safety-critical systems, optimize performance, manage limited resources, and handle parallel execution effectively.

waleed1.tar.gz

C++11

C++ 17

Embedded Programming with Modern C++  is highly valuable for each professional programmer.

In the past, embedded and system programming have had their pitfalls, but modern C++ has been designed to be a better language for this type of development, addressing the previous pitfalls/requirements explicitly. What are these requirements? Embedded systems deal with safety-critical systems, meaning they must guarantee high performance combined with limited resources, while also working in parallel.

The scope of this course goes beyond just embedded programming. Developers who write servers, games, or trading systems may especially benefit from this course because they also have to deal with safety-critical systems, high performance, reduced resources, and parallel execution in their jobs.

To get the most out of the course, you only need a basic understanding of C++. Building off this understanding, this course goes over all the essentials of embedded programming with Modern C++.

Let's get started!

Embedded Programming with Modern C++

# The Number 0
The issue with the literal 0 is that it can be either the null pointer `(void*)0` or the number 0 depending on the context of the problem in question.

Therefore, programs using the number 0 should be confusing.

// null.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include <typeinfo>

int main(){

  std::cout << std::endl;

  int a = 0;
  int* b = 0;
  auto c = 0;
  std::cout << typeid(c).name() << std::endl;

  auto res = a + b + c;
  std::cout << "res: " << res << std::endl;
  std::cout << typeid(res).name() << std::endl;
  
  std::cout << std::endl;

}

The question remains, what is the data type of variable `c` in line 12 and of variable `res` in line 15?

The variable `c` is of type `int` and the variable `res` is of type pointer to `int: int*`. Pretty simple, right? The expression `a + b + c` in line 15 is pointer arithmetic.

# The macro NULL
The issue with the null pointer `NULL` is that it implicitly converts to `int`.

According to [en.cppreference.com](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/types/NULL) the macro NULL is an implemenentation-defined null pointer constant. A possible implementation is as follows: 

```c++
#define NULL 0
//since C++11
#define NULL nullptr

```
But that will not apply to our platform. `NULL` seems to be of the type `long int`. We will return to this point later. The usage of the macro `NULL` raises some questions.

In this lesson,  we will learn how new null pointer nullptr cleans up in C++ with the ambiguity of the number 0 and the macro NULL.

Introduction

Safety-Critical Systems

High Performance

Reduced Resources

Several Tasks Simultaneously

Conclusion

nullptr Instead of 0 or NULL