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How the CRA May Standardize Failure

The Cyber Resilience Act is supposed to improve the security of products sold in Europe. This contrarian article argues that the relationship between regulation and actual security is weaker than it...

Rules Bind the Fool and Guide the Wise

In my professional life, I’m often described as strict. Sometimes even rigid. It’s rarely meant as a compliment. I understand why. In environments where everything moves fast, where constraints shift...

The Vasa Didn’t Sink Because Engineering Failed

In 1628, the Swedish warship Vasa sank less than a mile into its maiden voyage. Engineering had identified and tested the problem. The instability had been demonstrated in plain sight, in front of...

Why x86 Is a Tomorrow Problem

There is a reason x86 platforms are so often chosen at the beginning of embedded projects. They let you move fast. A familiar environment. You can plug a monitor, a mouse, a keyboard, even a hard...

Embedded AI Does Not Fail Where You Think It Does

There is no shortage of enthusiasm around AI. Models perform well on workstations. Demos look convincing. Early results are promising. And then the model is moved onto the target platform. That is...

NXP NPUs: Understanding the Shift

NXP recently introduced their latest i.MX937 Application Processor with on-chip Neural Processing Unit (NPU).It’s the opportunity to sit back and reflect on NXP’s NPU journey since their...

Watchdogs: One Concept, Many Meanings

A watchdog in embedded systems is much more than a timer that occasionally forces a reset.From K9 style hardware supervision to software health checks and crash forensics, it is the silent guardian of...

Kr-85: A New Metric for Embedded System Technical Debt

Some design decisions don’t fail loudly.They decay slowly. In embedded systems, some design features deserve a more precise classification. I propose we start qualifying certain embedded design...

Fixed Price vs Time & Materials

A company considers hiring an external contractor for development work. The choice between Fixed Price and Time & Materials is examined from that perspective. The discussion often focuses on risk...