What is meant by firmware design

[phutanesv]

hai dudes

What is acutally meant by firm ware designer in VlSI field,

With regards
Phutane

 

[vlsi_freak]

Hi Phutanesv

Firmware is a term commonly used for software. But firmware is a software programme which runs on some hardware, for example a piece of code running on Microcontroller can be said as a firmware.

Whatever hardware u make in VLSI, ultimately for it to run, u require a controller, and for the controller to run u require a firmware. Thats all about it.

Hope it helps.

Thanks

 

[avimit]

Well, I dont quite agree 100% with vlsi_freak. Because every software runs on hardware, weather its software firmware or embedded s/w.
Then,
Not every hardware needs a controller. And not every controller needs a firmware/sotfware.

Firmware is the software which is not as soft as software. Well, it is actually embedded sotfware. Well it is actually that embedded software which usually resides in ROM. So its firm, not soft. i.e it cannot be changed once put in ROM.
So its kindof something between software and hardware. Not as hard(fixed i.e which cannot be changed once manufactured) as hardware, and not as soft(flexible, i.e can be changed) as sotfware.
Kr,
Avi

http://www.vlsiip.com