Embedded C is a set of language extensions for theC Programming language by theStandards committeeto address commonality issues that exist

between C extensions for differentembedded systems.Historically, embedded C programming requires nonstandardextensions to the C language in order to support exotic features such asfixed-pointarithmetic,multiple distinctmemory banks,and basicI/Ooperations.An embedded system is acomputer systemdesigned for specific control functions within alarger system, often withreal-time computingconstraints. It is embedded as part of acomplete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general- purpose computer, such as apersonal computer (PC), is designed to be flexible and to meet awide range of end-user needs. Embedded systems control many devices in common usetoday.Embedded systems contain processing cores that are either microcontrollersor digital signal processors(DSP). The key characteristic, however, is being dedicated to handle a particular task. Since the embedded system is dedicated to specific tasks, design engineers can optimizeit to reduce the size and cost of the product and increase the reliability and performance.Some embedded systems are mass-produced, benefiting fromeconomies of scale. Physically, embedded systems range from portable devices such asdigital watchesandMP3 players,to large stationary installations liketraffic lights,factory controllers.Complexity

Advance Real Time Embedded Systems M.M.E.C. Mullana Page 10 varies from low, with a singlemicrocontroller chip, to very high with multipleunits,peripheralsand networks mounted inside a largechassisor enclosure.In 2008, the C Standards Committee extended the C language to address these issues by providing a common standard for all implementations to adhere to. It includes a number of features not available in normal C, such as, fixed-point arithmetic, named address spaces, and basic I/O hardware addressing.Embedded C use most of the syntax and semantics of standard C, e.g., main() function,variable definition, datatype declaration, conditional statements (if, switch. case), loops(while, for), functions, arrays and strings, structures and union, bit operations, macros,unions,etc Looking around, we find ourselves to be surrounded by various types of embedded systems. Be it a digital camera or a mobile phone or a washing machine, all of them has some kind of processor functioning inside it. Associated with each processor is the embedded software. If hardware forms the body of an embedded system, embedded processor acts as the brain, andembedded software forms its soul. It is the embedded software which primarily governs thefunctioning of embedded systems.During infancy years of microprocessor based systems, programs were developed usingassemblers and fused into the EPROMs. There used to be no mechanism to find what the program was doing. LEDs, switches, etc. were used to check correct execution of the program. Some very fortunate developers had In -circuit Simulators (ICEs), but they weretoo costly and were not quite reliable as well.As time progressed, use of microprocessor-specific assembly-only as the programminglanguage reduced and embedded systems moved onto C as the embedded programminglanguage of choice. C is the most widely used programming language for embedded processors/controllers. Assembly is also used but mainly to implement those portions of thecode where very high timing accuracy, code size efficiency, etc. are prime requirements.Initially C was developed by Kernighan and Ritchie to fit into the space of 8K and to write(portable) operating systems. Originally it was implemented on UNIX operating systems. Asit was intended for operating systems development, it can manipulate memory addresses.

Advance Real Time Embedded Systems M.M.E.C. Mullana Page 11 Also, it allowed programmers to write very compact codes. This has given it the reputation asthe language of choice for hackers too. As assembly language programs are specific to a processor, assembly language didnt offer portability across systems. To overcome this disadvantage, several high level languages,including C, came up. Some other languages like PLM, Modula-2, Pascal, etc. also came but couldnt find wide acceptance. Amongst those, C got wide acceptance for not only embedded systems, but also for desktop applications. Even though C might have lost its sheen asmainstream language for general purpose applications, it still is having a strong-hold inembedded programming. Due to the wide acceptance of C in the embedded systems ,various kinds of support tools like compilers & cross-compilers, ICE, etc. came up and allthis facilitated development of embedded systems using C . 2.1 Variety of embedded systems : Embedded systems are widespread in consumer, industrial, commercial and militaryapplications.Telecommunications systems employ numerous embedded systems fromtelephoneswitchesfor the network tomobile phonesat the end-user. Computer networking usesdedicatedroutersandnetwork bridgesto route data.Consumer electronicsincludepersonal digital assistants(PDAs),mp3 players,mobile phones,videogame consoles,digital cameras,DVD players,GPSreceivers, andprinters. Many household appliances, such asmicrowave ovens,washing machinesanddishwashers, include embedded systems to provide flexibility, efficiency and features.AdvancedHVACsystems use networkedthermostatsto more accurately and efficientlycontrol temperature that can change by time of day andseason.Home automationuses wired-and wirelessnetworking that can be used to control lights, climate, security, audio/visual,surveillance, etc., all of which use embedded devices for sensing and controlling.Transportation systems from flight to automobiles increasingly use embedded systems. Newairplanes contain advancedavionicssuch asinertial guidance systemsandGPSreceivers thatalso have considerable safety requirements. Various electric motors brushless DCmotors,induction motorsandDC motors use electric/electronicmotor controllers.Automobiles,electric vehicles,andhybrid vehiclesincreasingly use embeddedsystems to maximize efficiency and reduce pollution. Other automotive safety systems