LEVEL 00 / LESSON 02

MCU vs MPU

Learn the concept first, then connect it to registers, firmware implementation, hardware behavior and debugging.

01 / CONCEPT

Embedded System vs General-Purpose Computer

A desktop or laptop is designed to run many applications for a human user. An embedded controller is normally designed around a product function. A general-purpose computer emphasizes flexibility and user applications. An embedded system emphasizes predictable behavior, hardware control, resource efficiency, reliability and product constraints.

CORE IDEA

Application flexibility

ENGINEERING VIEW

Resource constraints

WHAT TO CHECK

Deterministic timing

REMEMBER

Power and cost constraints

02 / PRACTICAL CHECK

Engineer’s checklist

  • Application flexibility
  • Resource constraints
  • Deterministic timing
  • Hardware interaction
  • Power and cost constraints
lesson-notes.c
// Level 0 practical notes
// Next iteration: register diagrams + full STM32 examples.