Tools, Standards, and Constraints for Embedded Systems

WARNING

Still Incomplete/TODO

Sources

Software that copies the behavior of embedded systems on a host machine
Advantages
- It can save time and costs because it does not require hardware
- Helpful during early-stage development and debugging
- Safety when designing embedded systems with potentially dangerous operations
Disadvantages
- It represents the ideal situation, so it may not accurately reflect the behavior in the real-world
- It cannot simulate all real-world conditions
- Hardware-specific bugs may remain invisible
Examples
- Proteus - combines circuit simulation with microcontroller simulation.
- MPLab - it is used for simulating PIC microcontroller code
- Tinkercad - online simulator for Arduino and basic electronic circuits
- Keil Vision Simulator - used for simulating ARM-based embedded systems
- AVR Simulator - for simulating AVR microcontrollers
- SimulIDE - simple, real-time simulator for electronics and PIC/AVR microcontrollers
- PICSsimLab - an open-source simulation tool designed for microcontroller-based electronic circuits, primarily focusing on PIC microcontrollers
- Wokwi - online simulator to simulate Arduino, ESP32, STM32, and other microcontrollers

Tools that replicate the functionality closer than simulators. Unlike simulators, its not limited to software only.
Advantages
- Real-time debugging capability
- Accurate hardware behavior reproduction
- Can monitor program flow and memory in real-time
- Support breakpoints and step-by-step execution
Disadvantages
- more expensive than simulators
- Requires specialized hardware
Examples
- ARM Dstream
  - emulator for ARM-based systems
  - MPlab real ice
  - Keil
  - Atmel-Ice
  - Segger J-link