# 290: Rule of Thumbs (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2022-01-07
- Length: 1h 13m
- Episode: 290
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/290-repeat

## Summary

Phillip Johnston, founder of Embedded Artistry, discusses his embedded systems consulting firm and his educational website, highlighting his focus on firmware engineering, code reviews, and robust software design. He explains how his company helps early-stage startups and medium-sized companies transition from prototypes to production, often by addressing firmware bottlenecks and implementing better testing and abstraction strategies. The conversation covers specific technical challenges, including the limitations of standard C++ threading libraries on embedded RTOSs like FreeRTOS and ThreadX, and the importance of risk analysis in complex systems, using the Boeing 737 MAX crashes as a case study for systemic failure.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=6) Introduction: Phillip Johnston and Embedded Artistry
- [4:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=275) Consulting Process and Client Types
- [10:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=641) Upfront Design vs. Agility and Processor Swaps
- [16:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=1009) Embedded Artistry Website and Popular Articles
- [21:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=1265) Embedded Rules of Thumb and Code Refactoring
- [27:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=1627) Code Review Best Practices and Social Dynamics
- [37:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=2245) Boeing 737 MAX Saga and Systemic Failure
- [55:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=3327) C++ Threading, Condition Variables, and RTOS Abstraction
- [1:03:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-repeat#t=3811) Building Embedded Artistry and Content Strategy

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [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)
- FreeRTOS (tool)
- ThreadX (tool)
- Boeing (company)
- Airbus (company)
- FAA (other)
- MCAS (product)
- Clang (tool)
- libc++ (tool)
- GCC (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [Firmware for Hardware Engineers with Phillip Johnston](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-09-07-firmware-for-hardware-engineers-with-phillip-johnston) (The Amp Hour)
- [Christmas Special](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2021-12-22-christmas-special) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [100 Episodes! Break Out the Champagne! A Retrospective](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-24-100-episodes-break-out-the-champagne-a-retrospective) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [An Interview with Piotr Esden-Tempski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-08-21-an-interview-with-piotr-esden-tempski) (The Amp Hour)

## 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/2022-01-07-290-rule-of-thumbs-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.