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Terms in Embedded systems & software

The entries explain technical terms from embedded systems and software engineering and lead to the service in which they occur.

A

AI agent
Application in which a language model breaks a task down into steps and calls tools such as search, database or interfaces for them. Assistants and agents
APIApplication programming interface
Defined interface through which a program uses functions or data of another program. Interfaces and data storage

B

Back end
Server-side part of an application with business logic, data storage and interfaces. Backend and distributed systems

C

C#
Object-oriented programming language from Microsoft whose programs run on .NET. Desktop and mobile applications
CI/CDContinuous integration and continuous delivery
Automated sequence of building, testing and delivering that runs on every change to the source code. Backend and distributed systems
Code review
A second person checks a change to the source code before it is merged. CI/CD and quality assurance
CompactRIO
Modular measurement and control system from NI with real-time processor, FPGA and exchangeable I/O modules. Measurement and test engineering
Container
Self-contained runtime environment that bundles an application with all dependencies and starts in the same way on every suitable host. Backend and distributed systems
CRACyber Resilience Act
EU regulation that imposes obligations on manufacturers of products with digital elements regarding security, vulnerability handling and updates. Product and software compliance
Cross-platform
One application is built from one code base for several operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Desktop and mobile applications
CVECommon Vulnerabilities and Exposures
Public catalogue of known security vulnerabilities in which every vulnerability receives a unique identifier. Vulnerability and patch management

D

Dashboard
Screen view that summarises key figures and measured values in charts and gauges. Production data and analysis

E

ERPEnterprise resource planning
Business software for orders, materials, purchasing, warehouse and finance of a company. Cloud and third-party systems

F

FPGAField programmable gate array
Programmable logic device whose circuit is defined by a hardware description and processes signals in parallel at clock periods of a few nanoseconds. FPGA-based measuring systems, microcontrollers and electronics
Front end
Part of an application that the user sees and operates, for example the interface in the browser or on the tablet. Web applications
Functional specification
Document of the contractor that describes how and with what the requirements of the requirements specification are implemented. Technical project management

G

GraphQL
Query language for interfaces in which the caller requests exactly the fields it needs. Interfaces and data storage

H

HMIHuman machine interface
Operator interface of a machine where staff read states, set parameters and acknowledge faults. PLC programming

J

Java
Platform-independent programming language whose programs run in a virtual machine. Backend and distributed systems

L

LabVIEWLaboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench
Graphical development environment from NI for measurement, test and control applications. Measurement and test engineering

M

MCPModel Context Protocol
Open protocol through which AI applications connect tools, data sources and interfaces in a uniform way. AI agents and workflows
Microcontroller
Single-chip computer with processor, memory and peripherals that performs control and measurement tasks in devices. FPGA-based measuring systems, microcontrollers and electronics
Middleware
Software between data sources and target systems that collects, converts, buffers and distributes data. Middleware and data flow

N

.NET
Platform from Microsoft for applications in C#, running on Windows, Linux and macOS. Desktop and mobile applications

O

OAuth 2.0
Standard for authorisation with which an application accesses an interface on behalf of a user without receiving the user's password. Interfaces and data storage
OpenAPI
Description format for REST interfaces from which documentation, tests and program code are generated. Interfaces and data storage

R

Real-time system
System that reacts to an event within a firmly guaranteed time. Hard real time allows no overrun of this deadline. Real-time systems
Requirements specification
Document in which the client describes the requirements for a project. The contractor answers it with the functional specification. Technical project management
RESTRepresentational state transfer
Architectural style for web interfaces in which resources are addressed through URLs and HTTP methods such as GET and POST. Interfaces and data storage
RTOSReal-time operating system
Operating system that executes tasks by priority and with predictable response times. Real-time systems

S

Sampling rate
Number of values per second that a measuring system acquires from a signal, stated in hertz. Measurement and test engineering
SBOMSoftware bill of materials
Machine-readable list of all components and libraries of a piece of software with version and licence, for example in the SPDX or CycloneDX format. Product and software compliance
STM32
Family of microcontrollers with an ARM Cortex core from STMicroelectronics. FPGA-based measuring systems, microcontrollers and electronics

U

Unit test
Automated test that checks a single function or class in isolation. CI/CD and quality assurance

V

Version control
System such as Git that records every change to the source code with author and time and allows parallel work. CI/CD and quality assurance
VHDLVery High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language
Language for describing digital circuits from which the configuration of an FPGA is created. FPGA-based measuring systems, microcontrollers and electronics

W

Web application
Application that runs in the browser and needs no installation on the workstation. Web applications
WebSocket
Protocol for a persistent connection between browser and server over which both sides can send data at any time. Web applications