Modbus is a common protocol used for communication between industrial devices. It’s a data layer used over an RS-485 physical interface, which is a differential signal designed to be tolerant to noise, an important criterion in industrial environments. To learn more about Modbus, check out this Wikipedia entry, or you can read the specification. For […]
Recently I had an interview with a company that was looking for someone well-versed in C++. I’ve been working to increase my C++ knowledge by taking online courses and writing my own card game, but I’m still somewhat new at C++. The interview became more useful in helping me clarify the gaps in my knowledge […]
I found both of these articles interesting. The first, talks about the value in firing an expert prima donna because of the problems they cause, despite their skills. https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/we-fired-our-top-talent-best-decision-we-ever-made-4c0a99728fde/?gi=fbc062e62a4 I’ve worked with some prima donnas, and they can be toxic. The can be protective of information, refusing to help others understand how something works. They […]
I stayed at my first company for 12 years. I left that to do consulting, after feeling pretty undervalued. When I told my boss I was leaving, he made an effort to get me to stay, talking to several other department managers to try and find an option that would entice me to stay. I […]
One of the most useful changes I’ve recently made in my life is better note taking. Unlike so many other things that will change my life, this one really has. Reasons to take notes I see many benefits to writing. It helps me remember. Writing forces your brain to slow down, and think about what […]
I cannot disagree with any of the points D. Burkus’ makes. To elaborate on the effects of keep compensation secret (D. Burkus talks about salary, but that’s only one way of compensating people) are: It gives the company a negotiation advantage, the information asymmetry D. Burkus talks about. If people knew what everyone made, the company couldn’t pay […]
Don’t do it! Don’t succumb to the fantasy of that warm and fuzzy upgrade. I’m a software developer; more specifically, an embedded software developer. For those who don’t know what “embedded” means, it’s software that runs hidden inside a machine, often with no obvious interface to the user. The world is filled with machines running […]
Anyone who has worked with IPv4 networking has learned about the loopback address. To explain, say your system cannot connect to the Internet. The problem could be any of the following: Your router isn’t forwarding your IP packets to the Internet. Your internal network isn’t forwarding your packets to the router. Your system isn’t transmitting packets to […]
Hello. Welcome to my blog page. My name is Bob Weber. I’m an embedded software consultant with over 25 years of experience in embedded software development. I’ve worked in a lot of industries, but I’ve found I prefer to work in smaller companies, where I can make more of an impact, and in faster-paced consumer […]