Web Applications on
embedded systems

#jsNight, 2016-06-08

Gianpaolo Macario

https://gmacario.github.io/

What is an embedded system?

We live surrounded by embedded systems

Typical characteristics of an embedded system

Embedded systems often have one
or more of the following features:

Reduced power consumption
Reduced size
Low cost per unit
High Reliability
Reduced (zero) need of maintenance

Example: In-Vehicle Infotainment

Hardware commoditization

Thanks to Moore's law, embedded systems have now enough computing power to allow adaptation and reuse of complex software originally developed for servers and desktops

Networking stacks and protocols
User Interface frameworks
Open Source software

With the economy of scale achieved by smartphones and other consumer devices, complex computer architectures have become affordable also for embedded systems
On the other hand, developing dedicated, custom hardware and porting standard platform software requires a huge investment and becomes justified only for high volume productions

Example: GENIVI Demo Platform

$ sloccount gdp_ivi9_beta/workspace

Totals grouped by language (dominant language first):

ansic:     46260693 (69.83%)
cpp:        9910207 (14.96%)
asm:        2006557 (3.03%)
sh:         1575972 (2.38%)
perl:       1276566 (1.93%)
python:     1163866 (1.76%)
xml:        1054193 (1.59%)

...

Total Physical Source Lines of Code (SLOC) = 66,247,653

Example: Android 5.1.1

$ sloccount build_android_udooneo/workspace

Totals grouped by language (dominant language first):
ansic:     28909496 (48.66%)
cpp:       14820059 (24.95%)
xml:        6894345 (11.61%)
java:       5651249 (9.51%)
asm:        1105027 (1.86%)
python:     1061272 (1.79%)
sh:          434135 (0.73%)
perl:        197439 (0.33%)

...

Total Physical Source Lines of Code (SLOC) = 59,405,160

Standard HW/SW Platforms are
becoming mainstream

Low-cost building blocks to prototype embedded systems
Complete with a ready-to-go Open Source software stack
Widely used hardware interfaces
Available for PoC and low-volume production
Can speed up and reduce risk in embedded system design

CHIP - The World's First Nine Dollar Computer

CPU: 1 GHz Allwinner A13

GPU: Mali400

RAM: 512 MB

Flash: 4 GB

WiFi
802.11b/g/n

Bluetooth 4.0

OS: Debian

UDOO NEO

OS: Android 5.1.1 / UDOObuntu2 (14.04 LTS)
Price: Starting from $49.90

CPU: Cortex A9
MCU: Cortex M4
RAM: Up to 1GB
Integrated 2D/3D GPU
Micro HDMI+LVDS
Storage: MicroSD
Audio: HDMI, S/PDIF
USB: 1x2.0, 1xOTG
Ethernet, WiFi, BT
GPIO, Gyro, Accelerom, Magnetometer
Arduino pinout

UDOO Board Web Config

Web-based application

Runs on the A9 core

Features

Get board info
Read on-board sensors
Remote Terminal
Remote Desktop
Build Arduino sketches
Program M4 core

Architecture: Node.js, Express 4, Socket.io
Sources: https://github.com/UDOOboard/udoo-web-conf

Meteor.js on UDOO

https://udoo.hackster.io/tomfreudenberg/meteor-on-udoo-and-others-a98e6d

https://github.com/4commerce-technologies-AG/meteor

UDOO X86: The definition
of "embedded system" is broadening...

Summary

Embedded Systems: more features, more capabilities

HW is becoming a commodity unless for huge volumes
SW development and system validation becomes the issue

Low-cost, standard HW platforms are now available - complete with a broad choice of Open Source software

Standard Web Frameworks and Tools are now affordable also on many types of embedded systems

Relying on proven and validated HW/SW platforms
allows embedded system developers to focus on application level and maximize the value to the end user

Thanks!