Embedded C++ Advanced: Object-Oriented Programming for Microcontrollers with C++/EC++

• C++ for Embedded Applications
  • History
  • Specific quality requirements on embedded software
  • Recommendations and rules (coding guidelines)
  • C++ compiler basics
  • Outlook: C++ idioms and clean code development
  • Practical tip with important references
• Summary - Basic C++ Constructs and Efficiency Considerations
  • Class and object
  • Class elements
  • Modifiers for data, functions and objects
  • Class function pointer using a state machine implementation as an example
  • Class relations (association, aggregation, composition and inheritance)
  • Virtual functions and interfaces (implementation and access)
  • Extended C++ constructs
• Namespaces and Efficiency Considerations
  • Using (nested) namespaces in program code
  • Namespace alias, anonymous namespace, Koenig lookup, inline namespace
  • Applying the software architecture to program code
  • C++ standard namespace std
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Integrating namespaces in existing program code based on the architecture
• Single Inheritance, Multiple Inheritance and Efficiency Considerations
  • Programming single inheritance and multiple inheritance (with interfaces)
  • Issues related to multiple inheritance, solutions
  • Virtual inheritance
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Using and programming multiple inheritance, virtually as an option
• Exception Handling and Efficiency Considerations
  • Exception handling - definition and programming
  • Exception classes and hierarchies
  • User exceptions
  • C++ system exceptions
  • Nested exception handling
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Integrating exception handling in the existing application
• Memory Management and Efficiency Considerations
  • Memory segments (BSS, stack, heap) for objects, comparison
  • Dynamic memory management with new and delete, with and without exception handling
  • Operator overload of new and delete
  • Pool allocation pattern
  • Placement new
  • Identifying risks and avoiding pitfalls
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Creating and deleting an object dynamically on the heap
• Runtime Type Identification (RTTI) and Efficiency Considerations
  • RTTI - definition and programming
  • type_info class
  • Consequences in use
  • Relation to exception handling and new style casts
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Using RTTI for class identification at runtime
• Type Conversion with New Style Casts and Efficiency Considerations
  • Static, dynamic, const and reinterpret cast
  • The right choice for use
  • Relation to RTTI and exception handling
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
• Templates and Efficiency Considerations
  • Template functions
  • Template class and object
  • Template parameters and alias
  • Inheritance and interfaces with template classes
  • Practical tips: Static versus dynamic polymorphism
  • CRTP (curiously recurring template pattern)
  • Template specialization and (implicit versus explicit) instantiation
  • Type traits and concepts
  • Variadic template functions and classes
  • Perfect forward
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Programming a template class for use in the observer pattern context of the application
• Smart Pointer, Recommended Use and Efficiency Considerations
  • Smart pointers - specifics and variants
  • Programming own smart pointers
  • C++ smart pointers
  • Lambda functions
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
• C++ Standard Library: Containers, Iterators and Algorithms, Recommended Use and Efficiency Considerations
  • Basic concept
  • Containers, iterators, adapters, algorithms
  • Specific container types and their differentiation
  • Containers for sequential, sorting and specific applications
  • Function objects (functors)
  • Lambda functions
  • Allocator class
  • Assembler, memory and runtime analysis and optimization
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Using a container class in the observer pattern context of the application
• Callback
  • Embedded software architecture guidelines
  • Embedded software quality features
  • Software layer pattern: embedded software layer architecture
  • Synchronous and asynchronous software architecture
  • Unidirectional and bidirectional communication
  • Callback structure with and without operating system resources
• Hardware Drivers and Interrupts in C++
  • Object-oriented concepts and programming of standard peripheral drivers
  • Object-oriented concepts and programming of interrupt handler
  • Register bank access
  • Callback structures in an interrupt context
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
  • Exercise: Integrating a hardware driver and an interrupt service in the application
• Select C++ Library Objects
  • std::string and std::string_view
  • iosteam and iomanip
  • std::stringstream
  • std::function, std::optional, std::variant and std::any
  • Application examples and recommendations for using these features in embedded software
• Practical Exercises in the Workshop
  • You will use the Arm Keil MDK (microcontroller development kit) along with real or simulated hardware, based on an Arm Cortex-M3 microcontroller throughout the exercise (watch application).
• MicroConsult Plus:
  • Participants can download their exercises and the solutions developed by MicroConsult for this workshop.
  • You get all C++ examples in electronic format and can easily adjust them to your development environment.
  • You get a checklist with scalable recommendations for using C++ in embedded software.
  • You get a tool and software component overview for developing embedded software.
  • You get helpful notation overviews for UML and SysML.

Lernziele

• You know the application and efficiency of advanced C++ constructs (namespaces, templates, exception handling, runtime type identification, new style casts, multiple inheritance, memory management).
• You are able to make informed decisions on using these constructs in your application.
• You have an overview of the elements and mechanisms of the STL (Standard Template Library) and can use them.
• You can adapt patterns (state patterns, Singleton patterns, observer patterns, smart pointer patterns and layer patterns) to your applications and implement them.

Zielgruppe

• The EC++ advanced training addresses programmers, software developers, software designers and software architects who use advanced C++ constructs in embedded software development.

Voraussetzungen

• Basic knowledge of object oriented C++ is a must; basic knowledge of UML of advantage.