An Interview with Jack Ganssle - Embedded Elchee Epexegesis

The Amp Hour · 2 Aug 2011 · 1h 06m · Episode 54

What this episode covers

Jack Ganssle, a veteran embedded systems engineer and author, discusses the enduring relevance of 8-bit microcontrollers against the hype of 32-bit ARM processors, arguing that low-end parts remain cost-effective and power-efficient for many applications. He critiques the high cost and power consumption of FPGAs, noting their shift toward integrating hard processor cores, and shares a specific frustration with Actel (now Microsemi) Igloo Nano parts requiring higher voltage for programming than operation. Ganssle also reflects on the global engineering landscape, contrasting the hunger and practical education of engineers in India and Brazil with the Western trend of moving engineers into management, while emphasizing the importance of technical writing and communication skills for career success.

Mentioned

Companies
Microchip, ST, Xilinx, Altera, Actel, Microsemi, TSMC, Wind River, Green Hills, Autodesk, Instructables, Texas Instruments, Freescale
Products
Igloo Nano, Arduino, OMAP
Chips
Intel 4004, Intel 8008
Also
Jack Ganssle

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