The essence of embedded development is to combine software and hardware, running code on chips and devices. It is widely used in fields such as smart hardware, automotive electronics, the Internet of Things, robotics, and medical devices. Many people want to get started but often don’t know where to begin. Below is alearning path from scratch.
1. Programming Basics
-
C Language: The core language for embedded development. Focus on mastering pointers, memory operations, structures, and bitwise operations.
-
C++/Python (optional): Some embedded projects use C++ (object-oriented concepts), while Python is useful for debugging and rapid prototyping.
📌 Recommended approach: Start directly with small projects, learning by doing. If you encounter difficulties, go back to reinforce your basics. This is more effective than spending half a day on theory without knowing what you’re doing, which can lead to confusion. You can refer to my article: A Project to Help You Get Started with C Language
2. Hardware Basics
-
Microcontrollers: Start with the 51 microcontroller or STM32, understanding concepts like registers, GPIO, timers, and interrupts.
-
Development Boards: Recommended for beginners are Arduino (suitable for novices), STM32 Nucleo series (commonly used in industrial projects), and Raspberry Pi (Linux embedded).
-
Circuit Basics: Be able to read circuit diagrams and understand basic concepts of voltage and current.
📌 Recommended approach: Buy a development board and start with “lighting up an LED”, then implement small experiments like button input, buzzer, and seven-segment display. You can refer to my articles: Quickly Get Started with STM32 Serial Communication and Interrupts in STM32 Serial Communication
3. Peripherals and Communication
Embedded devices often need to interact with peripherals, which is crucial:
-
Common Interfaces: UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, you should know how to use them.
-
Sensor Drivers: Such as temperature sensors, accelerometers, and light sensors, which can collect data through interfaces.
-
Storage and Display: Learn to drive EEPROM, Flash, LCD, and OLED screens.
📌 Recommended approach: Try writing a small project, such as using STM32 to collect temperature data and display it on an OLED screen.
4. Embedded Operating Systems (RTOS)
As project complexity increases, task management and resource scheduling become necessary:
-
FreeRTOS: The most common embedded real-time operating system.
-
Key Knowledge Points: Task scheduling, priority, message queues, semaphores, and the coordination of interrupts and tasks.
📌 Recommended approach: Port FreeRTOS to your development board and write a small system with three tasks: “LED blinking + button response + serial printing”. You can refer to my articles: STM32 Serial Log Printing
5. Advanced Stage: Linux Embedded
When the device has stronger performance (like ARM Cortex-A series), it will run Linux:
-
Linux Basics: Command line, processes, threads, file systems.
-
Driver Development: GPIO drivers, character device drivers, platform drivers.
-
Application Layer Development: Write applications in C/C++ or Python, calling underlying drivers.
📌 Recommended approach: Use a Raspberry Pi or Allwinner development board to port Linux and try writing an application for “camera capture + screen display”.
6. Project Practice
Projects are essential; the most important thing is to work on projects to connect scattered knowledge:
-
Smart Home: Temperature and humidity collection + wireless transmission + mobile display;
-
Smart Car: Obstacle avoidance with sensors, servo control, Bluetooth remote control;
-
IoT Applications: ESP32 + MQTT for remote data collection;
-
Embedded AI (optional): Running lightweight neural network models on STM32/Raspberry Pi.
📌 Recommended approach: Choose a direction that interests you, complete a project, and write learning notes.
Conclusion
The learning path for starting from scratch in embedded systems can be summarized as:
C Language → Microcontroller Hardware → Peripheral Communication → RTOS → Linux Embedded → Project Practice
For a simplified version:
C → STM32 → Linux
In general, whether in embedded software or hardware, C language is core. Then check the job skill requirements on recruitment websites for the companies you want to work for, and learn accordingly. Focus on projects while learning, as practice is the only way to improve. I strongly discourage just watching videos; you must get hands-on!!!!