When designing an embedded system with an MCU, one of the hardest tasks for an engineering team is deciding on the type of “brains” their new electronic product really requires. While there are really only two (and some in between) choices to choose from, the decision made can influence (and constrain) future GUI decisions.  

It is also essential to consider the implications of the graphical user interface (GUI) development software you choose to use on it.  You need to ask your embedded GUI software vendor if the GUI you create with them will scale across their (or others) hardware with ease at a later date. Some software companies, usually the free ones included with the hardware, restrict this to the same processor family. 

Mapping out a migration path for potential hardware change is critical to ensuring a longer life for your product, and ensuring you make the right hardware and GUI software decisions. Fortunately, you have options.

Thomas Fletcher, Co-Founder and VP of R&D, talks on the specific use case of building rich UIs populated with images and graphics and how you can get all of the resources to fit in your embedded system in our Embedded GUI Expert Talks with Crank Software. Or as Thomas likes to summarize as “making good computer memory and image choices”. 

By watching a replay of Thomas and Rodney's live Youtube video or by following along the transcript below, learn how to: use frame buffers to optimize image memory, understand the decode phase, use hardware accelerators and other technologies for decompression, and look at further graphics optimization solutions. If you missed part 1 on embedded graphics and memory optimization considerations, click here.

Or, jump straight ahead to the question and answer portion of the live video.

Thomas Fletcher, Co-Founder and VP of R&D, and Rodney Dowdall, Product Architect, talk about the font options product development teams have available to them when it comes to designing their embedded UI project in our Embedded GUI Expert Talks with Crank Software.

If you had have asked me (pre-Covid), what a typical day of an embedded user interface (UI) developer looked like, I would have answered with something like standup meetings with my teammates, working with clients, developing at my desk, and testing UI applications on physical hardware in our lab. As we all know however, the world is no longer the same and those in-office days are on pause. Fortunately, I’ve been able to quickly pivot and continue working and developing from home, with little to no impact on my productivity or client deliverables with the following tools and techniques that we've created in this fun infographic for you to share.

Who says that developing a compelling, user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) for your next touchscreen device has to be complicated? At Crank Software, we believe that the most simplistic and intuitive solutions are the most effective – and fun to use. With Storyboard, our dedicated embedded GUI development platform, you’ll enjoy the journey as much as your audience will enjoy interacting with the finished product. Let’s go over some essential tips to help make your GUI project a reality!