Visualize a better debugger
by Peter C. Dibble
Programmers often use visualization tools to investigate bugs they already know exist. But when used in novel, almost casual ways, these tools can be more powerful. Is there a new tool here for finding elusive bugs?

Linux-based USB devices
by Bill Gatliff
The Universal Serial Bus is a useful communications interface and more popular than ever. Here are three approaches to adding USB support to an embedded system running the Linux operating system.

Special Report: Choosing an RTOS
by Michael Barr
In the market for a commercial RTOS? This article provides an overview of RTOSes and how you can select the one for your project. You'll also find a list of vendors and their products and tips on comparing the products in the Embedded.com Buyer's Guide.

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Talking shop
by Michael Barr
The future has been sneaking up quietly, and it is already quite real. Michael reveals some new features on the website.

Murphy's Law
Color by numbers
by Niall Murphy
Embedded GUIs are growing more elaborate day by day. Developers now have to contend with such arcana as a color palette.

Beginner's Corner
Introduction to Ada 95
by Benjamin M. Brosgol
Ada, an internationally standardized object-oriented language, was designed for programming large, long-lived systems, especially those with stringent reliability requirements. This introduction is a survey of Ada's key features, with a focus on those most useful to embedded programmers.

Significant Bits
The Two Percent Solution
by Jim Turley
Processors make up only a small percentage of semiconductor volume, yet they generate most of the revenue. Jim explains why.

Break Points
Born to fail
by Jack G. Ganssle
Systems fail, and sometimes no one is around to reset them before something worse happens. That's why watchdog timers matter.