The stated purpose of this book is to “provide you with portable, ready-to-use code so that you can save time with your next embedded system.” The author presents and describes a collection of software modules written in C that can be used in building embedded systems. The code is written so that it can be easily adapted to similar hardware devices and operating environments.

A separate chapter is devoted to each software module. Modules are provided to control keyboards, LED displays, LCD devices, a clock/calendar, countdown timers, discrete input/output devices, analog input/output devices, and asynchronous serial communications. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the control of the device, which is followed by a description of the software module. Diagrams illustrate how the software module interacts with the application program and the hardware device. In addition to detailed descriptions of the data structures and access functions of the module, the author gives the memory usage and execution time of each of the functions (assuming an Intel 80386 at 16 MHz). In most cases, sample code illustrates how the module would be used by an application program. The source code for the module is provided at the end of each chapter.

Chapter 2 contains a valuable overview of real-time concepts, including interrupt processing, multitasking, a real-time kernel, scheduling, intertask communication, and task synchronization. An understanding of these concepts is essential to understand the book. Since much of the code depends on a real-time kernel, the author assumes the presence of his real-time operating system, &mgr;C/OS. Whenever possible, however, he gives alternative code that does not require a real-time kernel.

A bibliography at the end of each chapter lists sources for electronic devices as well as further reading. A chapter on fixed-point arithmetic is included so the control of analog input/output can be handled without floating-point support. Appendices describe the &mgr;C/OS real-time kernel, present the author’s coding conventions, and reprint data sheets for some of the devices.

The author uses a consistent and clear coding style. Through the effective use of encapsulation, he is able to isolate the hardware and operating system dependencies so the code can be easily modified. A companion diskette contains the source code for the modules as well as the &mgr;C/OS real-time kernel in object format and a number of auxiliary files for testing the modules and measuring execution times.

The book is well organized and well written, and it is a valuable contribution to embedded system design. The code the author has provided and explained should be easily adapted to a wide range of applications. There are no exercises, which might diminish the usefulness of the book as a textbook. There are only a few scattered typographical errors, which are easily identified and corrected.