? Preparing for C++26: A Look Back at Major Features Since C++11

This article provides an overview of the major features added to C++ from C++11 through to the upcoming C++26. It explains key changes like auto type deduction, lambda expressions, and smart pointers, and covers later enhancements like concepts, ranges, and modules. You'll find examples and explanations that show how these features work and what they mean for modern C++ development.

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? Raspberry Pi Pico RP2350 - Massive Performance Boost Trick

This video explores the performance differences between Cortex-M33 and RISC-V Hazard 3 cores on the ? RP 2350 microcontroller. Initially, the RISC-V cores were surprisingly slower than expected due to using suboptimal compiler setups on Windows with ?‍? Visual Studio Code. Feedback from the core designer revealed that the default toolchains lacked important optimizations, especially for floating-point operations.

By switching to ?‍? Linux and manually configuring the toolchain and compilers, significant performance improvements were achieved. The optimized setup showed the RISC-V cores outperforming Cortex-M0 cores and, in some cases, even matching or exceeding the Cortex-M33. The video concludes that to fully unlock the RP 2350's potential, developers should use the right compiler and setup, ideally on Linux, for the best performance.

⛓ https://youtu.be/_O3Aeyv2ILM

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Raspberry Pi Pico RP2350 - Massive Performance Boost Trick

The RP2350 is a dual architecture, dual core, microcontroller chip. You can develop for it use Windows, Linux, and macOS, plus a variety of compilers. Sounds good? Maybe not. You better pick the right combo! --- Let Me Explain T-shirt: https://teespring.com/gary…

? Reconfigurable Continuous Track Robot (RCTR)

The RCTR introduces a new approach to robotic mobility by reconfiguring its shape dynamically as it moves. It can lock individual track links at different angles, enabling it to climb steps, bridge gaps, and adapt to various terrains. A small actuator at the front locks the links, while a mechanism at the back resets them, allowing the robot to switch between flexible and rigid states.

Although the RCTR currently lacks steering, adding this capability would be straightforward. Its design showcases a unique ability to handle diverse environments, making it adaptable for a wide range of applications.

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? Qt vs. Flutter: Which Framework is Right for Your Embedded Project?

Choosing between Qt and Flutter for embedded project development depends on the specific technical needs of the project.

Qt, built on C++, excels in native performance and efficiency, making it ideal for complex, high-performance applications. It offers extensive libraries and robust community support, catering to projects that require sophisticated functionalities and direct hardware access, such as medical devices and low-end hardware without GPU support.

On the other hand, Flutter focuses on rapid development and cost-effectiveness, utilizing Dart for an accessible programming experience. Key features like hot reload enable quick iteration, and a single codebase ensures consistent UI across platforms.

To sum up, Qt is suited for intricate, performance-critical applications, while Flutter is ideal for projects prioritizing speed, cost-efficiency, and cross-platform consistency.

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©️ Strategies for Handling Padding in C Programming

In C programming, padding refers to the extra memory space added between members of a structure to align the data in a way that the CPU can access it more efficiently. Normally, the compiler adds padding to structures to align data members according to their natural boundaries. Consider the following structure in a firmware written for a 32-bit system:

struct foo { uint32\_t i; uint8\_t b; };

In this example, the compiler adds 3 bytes of padding after "b" to ensure the structure’s total size is a multiple of 4 bytes, making it 8 bytes in total.

To address this issue the referred article proposes several strategies regarding structure padding to optimize memory layout and access efficiency, particularly focusing on packed structures.

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? 5 best practices for writing ISRs

Interrupt Service Routines (ISRs) are essential for embedded systems, but poorly written ISRs can cause race conditions, poor responsiveness, and high CPU usage.

To write effective ISRs, it's crucial to keep them short and fast to minimize CPU cycle consumption and avoid timing issues. Avoid calling functions within ISRs to reduce execution time and prevent system instability. Instead, use static compilation, preprocessor, and inline functions to streamline ISR code without compromising modularity.

Additionally, offload intensive processes to other threads by using flags, queues, and proper synchronization to ensure efficient and responsive ISRs. Declaring shared variables as volatile prevents compiler optimizations that might lead to unpredictable behavior. Customize default ISR handlers to set diagnostic flags instead of infinite loops to handle unexpected interrupts safely. By following these best practices, you can enhance the performance and reliability of your embedded systems.

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? Raspberry foundation has released an affordable AI Kit

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has launched the Raspberry Pi AI Kit, priced at $70, in collaboration with Hailo. This kit, featuring an M.2 HAT+ board preassembled with a Hailo-8L AI accelerator module, is designed to enhance the Raspberry Pi 5's capabilities in neural networks (NN), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.

Key features of the kit:
➡️13 tera-operations per second (TOPS)
➡️Single-lane PCIe 3.0 connection running at 8Gbps
➡️Full integration with Raspberry Pi's software ecosystem
➡️Support for multiple cameras and NN configurations

The kit supports a range of AI applications, such as object detection and pose estimation, by running complex AI models on the Hailo-8L co-processor, thus freeing up the Raspberry Pi's CPU for other tasks.

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