# 290: Rule of Thumbs

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Length: 1h 13m
- Episode: 290
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/290-rule-of-thumbs

## Summary

Phillip Johnston, founder of Embedded Artistry, discusses embedded software consulting, the importance of upfront design to avoid costly rewrites, and best practices for code reviews and testing. He analyzes the Boeing 737 MAX crashes as a systemic failure driven by business pressures and poor risk analysis, and explains the challenges of retargeting C++ standard libraries like libc++ to RTOS environments such as FreeRTOS and ThreadX.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [4:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=242) Consulting Process and Client Types
- [10:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=641) Upfront Design vs. Agility
- [15:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=902) Testing and Website Content
- [27:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=1627) Code Review Best Practices
- [37:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=2245) Boeing 737 MAX Case Study
- [48:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=2906) Risk Analysis and Human Psychology
- [55:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=3327) Retargeting C++ and Condition Variables
- [1:03:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs#t=3786) Motivation for Embedded Artistry

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Embedded Artistry (company)
- nRF52 (chip)
- IAR (tool)
- newlib (tool)
- Apple (company)
- Boeing (company)
- FreeRTOS (tool)
- ThreadX (tool)
- libc++ (tool)
- Clang (tool)
- GCC (tool)

## 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)
- [The Pragmatism of Hubris](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-12-14-the-pragmatism-of-hubris) (Oxide and Friends)
- [François Baldassari from Memfault on IoT Observability](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-02-15-francois-baldassari-from-memfault-on-iot-observability) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Modern Embedded Systems Programming with Miro Samek](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-01-18-modern-embedded-systems-programming-with-miro-samek) (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/2019-06-06-290-rule-of-thumbs. 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.