This book attempts to define the terms, expressions, and colloquialisms used in the embedded computer systems industry.

Despite the seemingly narrow focus on embedded systems, a useful glossary for this subject would need to cover a wide range of terms in the fields of digital electronics and computer science. The authors overcome this challenge admirably. The dictionary covers these subjects, and many more. It includes relevant definitions in subjects such as physics, project management, electronic communications, international standards, achievements, people, companies, organizations, and jargon.

Another requirement of a good glossary is accuracy. Again, the authors are up to the challenge. Ganssle and Barr each have years of experience as successful embedded systems developers. Each has also written extensively on this subject prior to their collaboration on this dictionary.

The authors’ considerable experience and training are evident in the book’s content. Besides concise, clear descriptions, a definition typically includes a grammatical categorization, and a key to pronunciation. Many definitions include historical background, references to Internet resources, small diagrams, graphs, tables, and pictures. A few even include snippets of C source code.

A very small number of definitions are somewhat incorrect. For example, the dictionary defines “GCC” as “GNU C Compiler,” which was this acronym’s original definition. However, this definition was changed a few years ago to “GNU compiler collection.”

I have one more small complaint, though it is one that demonstrates the authors’ skill: many definitions are too short, leaving the reader wanting to know more. This conciseness is necessary, however, to prevent the book from growing into several volumes, rather than its 290 or so pages.