The distinction between firmware and software ???

small_chick · Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Posts: 53

I hope someone can explain me more about the difference between firmware and software ? thanks! Very Happy

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19520

Just down to how the software is stored/used.
Firmware is normally software that is programmed 'into' a chip, rather than having to be loaded before use.

Best Wishes

asmboy · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 2128 Location: albany ny

An example of this difference that's close to home for computer users:

In your computer the BIOS is firmware.
The OS and your programs are software.

ezflyr · Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 1019 Location: Tewksbury, MA

small_chick,

Really.....???? A Google search of "What is the difference between firmware and software" returned 4.5+ MILLION hits. I would think that at least one of them would have been able to answer your question?

Beyond the annoying, "please spoon feed me" type questions you seem to favor here on the forum, you aren't doing yourself any favors in the long-term with your approach. A good engineer is often the NOT the smartest person in the room, but rather the most resourceful, and the one that uses all the tools available to him/her to answer a question, or solve a problem.

John

bkamen · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:28 pm

ezflyr · Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 1019 Location: Tewksbury, MA

Ben,

No argument from me on that point! It's the old "give a man a fish, or teach
a man to fish" theory, IMHO.

On the other hand, most of the members on the forum are incredibly
generous with their time/advise, so it's hard to fault anyone for jumping in
to help!

John

small_chick · Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Posts: 53

thanks for your explaination, Ttelmah and asmboy!!!
Very Happy

ezflyr, it seems that you misunderstand me! I don't force anyone to help me !! it relies on your willingness!!! Hope you to reconsider !!! Very Happy

ezflyr · Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 1019 Location: Tewksbury, MA

Hi small_chick,

I never said that you "forced" anyone to help you. I'm not even sure how
you'd do that here on the forum if you wanted to......

I was simply pointing out that you have a habit of asking questions here
that can easily be answered yourself if you would just take a little bit of
personal initiative. Some recent examples:

1. What is the difference between firmware and software? (Answer: Google)
2. How can I implement the Arcsin function? (Answer: Compiler Manual)
3. How many UART's in the PIC16F887? (Answer: 16F887 Datasheet)

I'm REALLY not trying to pick on you, but rather to encourage you to try
to answer these questions yourself first, before reflexively posting them
to the forum. If you do this, it will make you a better programmer/engineer!

John

small_chick · Joined: 17 Jul 2012 Posts: 53

ezflyr, i'll try to think more carefully before posting ! thanks ! Smile

bkamen · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 am

W4GNS · Joined: 28 Sep 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Virginia, USA

Most forums I'm active on use this as a sticky http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
_________________
PCWH 4.14

Ttelmah · Joined: 11 Mar 2010 Posts: 19520

Let's be slightly 'basic' here.

_Anyone_, with even the remotest competence, should have been able to find an answer to this online....
The forum does suffer from lots of 'off topic' posts.
The question does have a certain connectedness to the PIC, since basically all PIC code is 'firmware', and this may not be obvious unless the difference is clear.

_However_ the question was so simple, that a couple of small answers can easily be given, and then the thread should die, and disappear down the forum hierarchy, in only a few hours.

Unfortunately, instead, the posts about it's 'suitability', keeps it bumping back to the top.

Which is more 'off topic'?.

Best Wishes