FAQ
- A group of students from the MS EE and MS Robo class of 2025 wanted to create a community led initiate to revive embedded systems & software community at the University of Pennsylvania. We are not masters of our fields but we wanted to find a better way to share what we know with students and any aspiring engineers.
- No, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to embedded systems. You won’t become an expert or a master in any of these topics just by reading the guides and following along.
printf("TL;DR: git gud"); // :)
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None of us were and many still feel that way. We all have to start somewhere so knowing nothing is perfectly fine.
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That said, if you are serious about something, you have to take the time to study and practice it with the intent to get good. It won’t happen immediately but little by little you’ll feel more comfortable with what you know and don’t know.
- Of course! There are a lot of free resources that we haven't accounted for yet. If you come across something worth adding to the list, please reach out to a member of the UPenn Embedded group or make a pull request with your recommendations.
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Mistakes happen so apologies for that. If you've found something that looks wrong (including grammar and or spelling errors) submit a pull request on the GitHub repository or talk to one of the UPenn Embedded memembers.
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We encourage anyone to reach out even if it's just to talk about your favorite vscode shortcuts (macOS, Windows, Linux). Let's get a discussion going!
printf("TL;DR: git gud"); // :)
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Consistency is key. Seriously, trying to pick up a language or skill that you were good at but lost because you stopped using it sucks. The same concept applies to learning stuff. Try to keep progressing at a consistent rate and schedule. That said, don’t neglect other responsibilities like school (because failing classes is expensive). If you’re just starting out, just focus on doing a little bit everyday.
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Take good notes! Having good notes makes it very easy to go back to them for reference at any point in case you forget something. Find a system that works for you but I heavily recommend pen and paper (Yes, it's ancient but walk with me for a sec). While this approach usually takes 2 to 3 times longer, the effort invested helps in retaining the information. That said, we understand that the world has moved on from such "archaic" forms of documentation bar the few of us are still partial to pen and paper. We are making efforts of "documenting" some digital note-taking apps that may be of interest to you.
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The topic should be interesting to you. The process of learning and staying focused is much easier when it’s something you truly care about. While there is certainly more to it, try to pick something that you are either really curious or really passionate about. That drive to learn more will help surmount that initial learning curve when it comes to learning anything new.
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Accepting failures and hardships - None of us like to lose but sometimes it happens and that is the reality of the situation. Don’t get discouraged if you miss the opportunity or make mistakes. You learn much more from your mistakes than from when you win. If anything, it only shows that you haven't reached your full potential yet. Insert motivational Rocky quote here
