Lifting the Lid on Software Timing Analysis at the UK Embedded Masterclass

Publication date on this website: Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Company: UK Embedded Masterclass
Category: Press Releases : Industry News (Market)

Summary:
Software timing analysis should not be guesswork - in many cases it is essential and often critical to the success of a project. ´Improving Real-Time Behaviour for Reliable Systems` is the title of a three hour workshop to be held at both the Cambridge and Bristol locations of this year's Embedded Masterclass event. http://www.embedded-masterclass.com

Full Text:
Rapita Systems will present a workshop on software timing analysis at the next Embedded Masterclass event, to be held in Cambridge and Bristol on the 7th and 12th of May.

Measuring and optimising execution times of software are key issues for embedded engineers designing reliable systems. Understanding, verifying, and improving the timing performance of their real-time products gives successful companies a key competitive edge. ´Improving Real-Time Behaviour for Reliable Systems` is the title of a three hour workshop to be held at both the Cambridge and Bristol locations of this year's Embedded Masterclass event.

This tutorial will cover key aspects of on-target timing analysis: finding worst case execution times (WCET) and the worst case path, and why worst case optimisation is not the same as average execution optimisation. It will also cover the practical issues of looking for the worst-case "hot-spots", identifying timing bugs and verifying optimisation opportunities.

"We are really pleased to be hosting this workshop as a part of the Embedded Masterclass," said Richard Blackburn, the event organiser. "This workshop will tackle an issue with which every software programmer can identify. Microprocessors run at mind boggling speeds, handling masses of data; often juggling numerous tasks. Trying to understand when things happen, is not only a huge undertaking, but is often essential with safety critical systems and real-time control systems. We are confident engineers will really value the opportunity to be at such a workshop."

The workshop presenter will be Dr Ian Broster, a founder and Director of Rapita Systems Ltd, a company specializing in software timing analysis. He is an experienced, lively lecturer who has given numerous training courses, lectures and presentations on this and other topics. He earned his PhD at the Real-time Systems group of University of York.

"We are pleased to once again be a part of the Embedded Masterclass event," said Ian Broster. "It's a great forum for the sharing of information relating to the development of hi-tech systems. Software timing analysis should not be guesswork - in many cases it is essential and often critical to the success of a project. I'll do my best to make it entertaining and fun."

More information is available at http://www.embedded-masterclass.com/software-timing-analysis.htm

Over the past 9 years, the Embedded Masterclass has established itself as an important UK event for engineers looking to explore the most recent tools and technologies for the development of embedded systems. Over the years it has grown from a small seminar into a much larger event that now includes a tabletop exhibition, an agenda of technical presentations and a collection of high quality workshops. It attracts electronics engineers, embedded computing engineers, designers and project managers, giving them the chance to meet with engineers from many of the world's leading vendors of development tools and realtime and embedded technologies. The Embedded Masterclass is recognised for the quality of its presentations, which are technical in content and presented by experienced and knowledgeable engineers. It's free to engineers and managers in the technology sector, although the workshop carries a small charge.

"What we have always tried to create, is a well organised, 'non-sales' forum where engineers can learn about the latest technologies and techniques," said Richard Blackburn. "We want engineers to walk away from the event feeling that it's been a really productive use of their time. We know the pressures engineers are often under, so we appreciate how valuable their time can be."

Other workshops at the event will include a 'GUI Development' workshop, a 'Embedded Linux' workshop and a 'MISRA C++' workshop. The free technical presentations will discuss such issues as the use of 3D CAD technology for enclosure design, and data management in realtime and embedded systems. The Exhibition includes vendors such as US based MontaVista, a leader in commercial Linux, and Swedish based Enea, a leader in software development solutions for telecom and datacom devices.

"It shaping up to be a good event," said Richard Blackburn. "We have plenty of vendors on board and registrations are already coming in for the workshops. It should be an exciting and fun event again this year."

More information is available at www.embedded-masterclass.com

Contact:
More information is available at http://www.embedded-masterclass.com