The Howdy Glossary

Edison is a programming language tailored for designing and implementing embedded systems, offering constructs for modeling concurrent processes with shared variables. It supports multi-threaded execution directly, enabling parallel program development without external libraries or complex syntax. Derived from C, Edison's syntax is C-family-accessible and includes strict typing to prevent pointer-related errors during compilation. Its features, like detailed data structure control and scheduling, make it ideal for real-time applications demanding predictability. Often used in educational settings to teach operating system principles, Edison’s simplicity in modeling concurrent activities and efficacy on resource-limited microcontrollers are notable.

Developed by Professor Brian Railing at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Edison leverages his expertise in embedded systems and concurrent programming. Focusing on simplifying the design and implementation of embedded systems with concurrent processes, Professor Railing conceptualized Edison to provide powerful yet accessible features for working on embedded systems. This language streamlines the development of real-time applications while ensuring predictability and robust control over data structures and scheduling. Its straightforward approach makes it particularly useful in educational contexts where understanding operating system principles is essential.

Edison faces competition from popular languages like C, C++, and Ada within the realm of programming languages for embedded systems. While these languages offer robust features such as efficiency (C/C++), extensive community support (C/C++), or reliability in safety-critical applications (Ada), Edison's direct support for multi-threading simplifies parallel program development without relying on external libraries or intricate syntax. Its strict typing prevents compile-time errors related to pointers, enhancing code reliability while maintaining ease of use suitable for teaching purposes. Edison's efficiency on resource-limited microcontrollers further underscores its utility in both professional projects requiring real-time responsiveness as well as educational settings focused on foundational learning about concurrency and operating system principles.