[allo37]

"Normal" software can be hard too if you get to do big-brain algorithm stuff like computational geometry. My experience was that I just didn't get to do that kind of thing very often.

Also there are less of those religious arguments over code style in embedded since it's all written in C and will look like ass no matter what.

[convolvatron]

for me the main reason why embedded is easier is that the whole world fits into one adequately detailed 400 page pdf.

in 'normal' software you're awash in a sea of poorly or non-documented libraries with a host of weird bugs sitting on top of mountain of dependencies you could never untangle.

while very limiting - that simplicity can be pleasant

and yes, you just know its going to look like ass no matter what - but it works and thats all we care about

[allo37]

Only one 400 page PDF?! You're a lucky person :)

But, I do agree with the general point - since everything is "close to the metal", there are no or very few layers of abstractions to dig through to figure out what's going on.

Of course, you then get to deal with weird bugs from poorly documented hardware IPs...oh well.