1️⃣Why are so many people discouraging embedded development? Let’s consider two questions:
- Online opinions are often repetitive. Everyone’s perspective (educational background), angle (industry background), and work experience (company background) are different. Essentially, for any position, there will always be many who say it’s good and many who say it’s not.
- Imagine if you are thriving in the embedded industry, busy every day, working with leaders from various sectors. Would you have time to complain online every day? Therefore, it is likely that those who speak negatively have more time, leading to more people discouraging embedded development.
2️⃣Why has there been a sudden increase in discussions about embedded development in recent years?
- Factors such as the downturn in the internet industry (everyone has heard about the low prices for Java developers in 2020!) have led a group of so-called coaching instructors (those who couldn’t succeed in Java and switched tracks!) to promote this field. It’s up to everyone to discern!
- Embedded systems are widely used in manufacturing: automotive electronics (the three electrics of new energy), consumer electronics, medical devices, chip manufacturers, etc. (Last year, over 800 companies were hiring in this field; click the link below for more information.)
- In recent years, embedded systems have combined with artificial intelligence, edge computing, etc., resulting in a surge of job opportunities.
- Salary: Due to the shortage of talent in the embedded industry, salary levels have risen significantly. Compared to most other industries, salaries are quite competitive.
Why are embedded salaries so much lower than pure software salaries?3️⃣What are your concerns?Your concern is: you fear that if you push hard to enter now, it will be a fleeting opportunity, and there won’t be any benefits to reap in a few years, right?
- Actually, there is no need to worry. Embedded development relies on experience, and the longer you accumulate experience, the more valuable it becomes.Because embedded development combines software and hardware. The foundational knowledge hasn’t changed much. You can look at the embedded knowledge learned ten or even twenty years ago. How much has it changed compared to today? Not much at all. Ten years ago, people were learningSTM32, and today they are still learning; ten years ago, they were learningLinux, and today they are still learning; ten years ago, they were learningARM, and today they are still learning. It’s basically the same. This proves that the iteration speed of embedded systems is fundamentally different from that of the internet. If you look at what was learned in the internet field ten or even twenty years ago compared to today, you will understand.
- So rather than worrying about the “golden period,” it is better to view embedded development as a “technical fertile ground” that requires deep cultivation: the skills you master today, such as STM32 configuration and Linux kernel optimization, will still be the foundation of development ten years from now; while the long-term accumulated skills in cross-platform debugging and system architecture design will become a moat for career development. This is the core advantage of embedded systems compared to the internet’s “hot industries”—there’s no need to chase fleeting trends; just focus on building an irreplaceable technical depth over time.
4️⃣Will embedded development experience the same boom and bust as the internet?My answer is: No, for the following reasons:
- It is precisely because embedded development combines software and hardware. Many issues arise not only at the software level but also at the hardware level. These aspects require human experience to accumulate. For instance, the current hot field of artificial intelligence will first replace some positions in the internet front-end, pure software, and more mechanical roles. However, any role that involves hardware is unlikely to be completely replaced. Changes in the software layer can happen quickly and with minimal cost (mostly just the salary of programmers).
- However, in embedded systems, any change from the underlying architecture to PCB layout, to the production of devices, and then to subsequent software and hardware debugging requires significant changes. The costs involved are enormous. For example, in the chip industry, a machine can cost a hundred million, with monthly maintenance costs exceeding two hundred thousand. Imagine if the shape, architecture, or production process of the chip changes. Would that machine become useless? How much would it cost to modify that machine? How much would it cost to produce the machine that produces that machine? Right?
- For this reason, embedded development is less likely to experience the same boom and bust as the internet. A million dollars might help you achieve success in the internet industry, but in embedded systems, a million dollars is often not enough to make a significant impact in many sectors.
5️⃣Choosing the Right Industry
- In any industry, to make money, you ultimately need to focus on both traffic and products; both are essential!
- I’m sure everyone has experienced choosing their college major or heard the saying, “70% depends on scores, 30% on choice”; the same applies to learning and employment in embedded systems, where choice is crucial.
- You must choose the right industry; otherwise, your development may be quite average.
🍉In conclusion, the embedded direction will still have many years of benefits. It is crucial for companies to choose the right industry. As long as they can persist in this direction, and if they learn smartly, they can develop very well. There is no need to be overly concerned about what others say. Following your own path will surely lead to success. Keep it up!