[Technology] FIRMWARE, Why is it so important?
The brain of all electronic devices.
There is no doubt that you have already heard of hardware and software. The touchable and the untouchable. The item and the code. To make it simple, whatever electronics you have, if something goes wrong, the hardware is what you kick and the software is what you swear at.
There is another thing that plays a major role in all electronics and maybe you didn’t hear of it. It is called firmware. It is neither a hardware nor a software but a combination of both. It’s a specific code (software) inside dedicated memory chips (hardware).
Don’t worry, I won’t give you an IT course. It’s neither what I’m good at nor the core message I want to spread in this article. Besides, I will tell you this:
The computer program is a language that your hardware must understand. A typical program is set on a hard drive or SSD (solid state drive). Before it reaches the hardware, it must go through API (application programming interface), OS (operating system), and device drivers. They are kind of translators. On the other hand, the code inside the dedicated memory chips (firmware) communicates directly with the hardware. When you start your PC, it’s your firmware telling your hardware to be powered on. When you type on your keyboard it is also him telling what to show on the screen.
You get it, the firmware is crucially important to the well-being of your device. That’s why every now and then an update is needed. It will:
- Fix the bugs
- Improve the functionality and features of the device. It can be your laptop, your solar inverter, your EV charger…you name it.
Whatever your device is, make sure to have the right firmware version and that the upgrade will not be interrupted. Otherwise, your hardware will no longer understand what you want from him. Some companies install a second firmware in case this happens but some don’t. So be cautious.
