Streamlining with the Cloud
Software development for Cortex-M microcontrollers is steadily moving to the cloud. In this chapter, we will look at several current topics related to software development using the cloud. Historically, embedded software has lagged behind general-purpose software development when it comes to the adoption of new tools and methodologies. One cause is the conservative nature of embedded developers, which is understandable given the long life span of products requiring some stability. Another reason is that embedded software runs on microcontrollers that are not available in the cloud. Unlike general-purpose software, microcontroller software cannot run on general-purpose computers. Even with these limitations, the benefits of cloud development are becoming compelling for embedded Cortex-M projects.
The cloud is a common slang term referring to remote servers available over the internet and located in data centers around the world. With cloud computing, users...