# 53: Being a Grownup Engineer (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-09-28
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat

## Summary

Jack Ganssle, author of 'The Art of Designing Embedded Systems' and 'The Embedded Systems Dictionary', argues that embedded software development has failed to adopt true engineering discipline, relying on 'heroics' rather than process. He cites the Toyota unintended acceleration case, where Michael Barr identified 11,000 global variables, as evidence of the catastrophic costs of poor software practices. Ganssle advocates for rigorous requirements gathering, static analysis tools like LDRA and Spark, and metrics-driven benchmarking to reduce debugging time and improve code quality. He contrasts this disciplined approach with the 'hacker' and 'maker' cultures, emphasizing that safety-critical systems require proven processes rather than ad-hoc coding.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=0) Introduction: Jack Ganssle and the state of embedded engineering
- [4:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=292) Heroics vs. Engineering: The Toyota case and Michael Barr's findings
- [13:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=783) Process vs. Culture: FDA, FAA, and the importance of team mindset
- [16:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=1016) Requirements, Agile, and the necessity of formal design
- [22:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=1326) The cost of quality: Metrics, Spark, and LDRA tools
- [32:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=1975) Persuading management: Using metrics and benchmarking to drive change
- [36:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=2182) Hiring and ethics: Joel Spolski's test and the engineer's responsibility
- [44:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=2665) Identity: Programmer vs. Engineer, and the hacker/maker distinction
- [50:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=3003) Linux in embedded systems: Requirements, costs, and suitability
- [56:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat#t=3409) Ganssle's research: Battery characterization and contact bounce data

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Jack Ganssle (other)
- Michael Barr (other)
- Toyota (company)
- LDRA (tool)
- Spark (other)
- Ada (other)
- iRobot (company)
- Circuit Cellar (other)
- EDN (other)
- ARM (company)
- IEEE (other)
- Capers Jones (other)
- James Grenning (other)
- Joel Spolski (other)
- Steve Leapson (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Christmas Special](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-12-22-christmas-special) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [An Interview with Jack Ganssle (2nd)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-04-20-an-interview-with-jack-ganssle-2nd) (The Amp Hour)
- [Development is Better when it's Test-Driven](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-02-16-development-is-better-when-its-test-driven) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [The Matthew Test with Matthew Eshleman - Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-07-27-the-matthew-test-with-matthew-eshleman-part-1) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Technical Debt in Embedded Systems Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-06-08-technical-debt-in-embedded-systems-development) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-09-28-53-being-a-grownup-engineer-repeat. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.