# 364: All the Abstractions

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-03-05
- Length: 1h 09m
- Episode: 364
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/364

## Summary

Jacob Beningo, an embedded software consultant and author, discusses the critical role of tracing technology in embedded development, recommending tools like Percepio Tracealyzer and SEGGER SystemView to visualize system behavior without the performance overhead of print statements. He explains how tracing helps debug timing issues, optimize low-power states, and validate real-time operating system (RTOS) performance, particularly in complex applications like satellite flight software. Beningo also shares insights from his books on reusable firmware and MicroPython, advocating for the use of Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) to accelerate development while understanding their limitations, and highlights the Embedded Online Conference as a way to access industry expertise efficiently.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=7) Introduction: Jacob Beningo and Lightning Round
- [2:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=179) Tracing Technology: Segger J-Trace and SystemView
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=514) Using Tracing for Satellite and Low-Power Systems
- [12:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=733) IDEs and RTOS Preferences: ThreadX and FreeRTOS
- [17:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=1043) Embedded Online Conference and RTOS Best Practices
- [33:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=2003) MicroPython Projects and CircuitPython Comparison
- [39:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=2357) The Case for HALs and Reusable Firmware
- [48:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=2885) Interrupt Reuse, Callbacks, and Multicore Architectures
- [57:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions#t=3462) Embedded Security, SWEBOK, and Renesas Handbook

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Percepio (company)
- Tracealyzer (tool)
- SEGGER (company)
- J-Trace (tool)
- SystemView (tool)
- ThreadX (other)
- FreeRTOS (other)
- Zephyr (other)
- MicroPython (other)
- CircuitPython (other)
- Adafruit (company)
- STM32 (chip)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Renesas (company)
- Synergy Software Quality Handbook (other)
- SWEBOK (other)
- IEEE (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [Linux Profiling with Mohammed Billoo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-04-30-linux-profiling-with-mohammed-billoo) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Zephyr with Luka Mustafa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-11-09-zephyr-with-luka-mustafa) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Pedantic or Andrantic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-03-pedantic-or-andrantic) (The Amp Hour)
- [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/2021-03-05-364-all-the-abstractions. 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.