Books

Below are the books that I have written / co-written. The books are designed to help developers from first time beginners to seasoned professionals.

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0-9842801-7-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-9842801-7-9

eBook
US $ 34.99

Professional's Guide To .NET Micro Framework Application Development - NEW!

By John R. Malin and Sean D. Liming

The Microsoft .NET Micro Framework brings Microsoft’s embedded expertise to resource-constrained devices, allowing device makers to bring products to market faster and at lower cost. TCP/IP and Web Services for devices functionality makes the .NET Micro Framework a compelling platform for a new generation of smart, connected, service-oriented devices. Its compact footprint (as little as 64 kilobytes) and support for 32-bit embedded processors without an MMU help keep per-device costs low, and a managed driver model makes it easier to develop device drivers. .NET Micro Framework applications are written in C# using either Visual Studio 2010 or Visual® C# Express 2010 Edition.

Professional’s Guide to .NET Micro Framework Application Development provides the most advanced treatment of the .NET Micro Framework SDK available. Over 40 hands-on exercises guide the developer through the tools and APIs available in the .NET Micro Framework SDK. Nineteen chapters cover the basic operation, hardware I/O support, basic networking, graphical interfaces, storage, and the final sample projects to tie the different features together. Example Visual Studio® projects are available for the most popular .NET MF platforms on the market. Features include:

• Individual chapter coverage of GPIO, Serial ports, SPI, ADC, PWM, and networking
• The best coverage of GUI development from the SDK
• Robotic projects demonstrate full system implementation

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0-9842801-6-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-9842801-6-2

eBook
US $ 24.99

Professional's Guide to POS for .NET

By Sean D. Liming

POS for .NET is the .NET programming solution of the UnifiedPOS (UPOS) standard. POS for .NET allows POS developers to write one application that support POS devices from different equipment manufacturers. Professional’s Guide to POS for .NET provides a foundation for those interested in learning the basics of POS for .NET applications and service objects. The book has 6 chapters cover POS for .NET architecture, POS for .NET application development, creating service objects, and managing service objects. There are over 14 exercises and examples written in VB.NET and C#.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction to POS for .NET
2. POS for .NET Architecture and the SDK
3. Creating POS for .NET Applications
4. POS Device Management
5. Service Objects - The Foundation for POS for .NET
6. POS for .NET Application Ideas

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0-9842801-1-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-9842801-1-7

Book
US $ 64.95

Professional's Guide to Windows® Embedded Standard 7

By Sean D. Liming

Windows® Embedded Standard 7 (WES 7) is the successor operating system to the popular desktop-to-embedded series Windows® XP Embedded and Windows® NT Embedded. Based on the Windows 7 code base, WES 7 has a completely new build and development process that reduces the development time and allows for better device servicing and upgrading. The tools are based on the Windows® System Image Manager and use packages and distribution shares, which replace components, to create custom Images. New field support tools like DISM.exe, WUSA.exe, and Package Manager allow for cleaner operating system servicing. The Embedded Enabling Features like Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) and File Based Write Filter (FBWF) allow WES 7 to go beyond the desktop to unique embedded devices. There are 22 exercises and 2 walkthrough exercises that cover the various tools, concepts, and technologies.

Topics covered include:

Build Process

• Basic art-of-the-start steps for any project
• Custom Images using Image Configuration Editor (ICE)
• Distribution shares for your drivers and applications
• Create custom templates
• 7 operating system installation passes

Servicing

• Explores the different tools and servicing scenarios
• Learn to add missing features using DISM.exe
• Add new languages to existing Images.
• Upgrade distribution shares

Embedded Enabling Features covered:

• Enhanced Write Filter (EWF) and EWF API’s
• File Based Write Filter (FBWF) and FBWF API’s
• Registry Filter
• Hibernate Once, Resume Many (HORM)
• USB Boot
• Message Box Default Reply
• Dialog Box Filter

Appearance and Security

• New components for boot and logon screens
• Implement custom shells
• Address OOBE screens for cloned Images
• Create custom local security policies

Other topics

• Real-Time Support
• Sensor and Location Platform
• 3 platform examples walk through the whole development process

Software Requirements:

• Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010
• Oracle® VirtualBox

Language: English
ISBN-10: 0-9842801-0-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-9842801-0-0
Paperback: 488 pages

Book
US $34.95

Real-Time Development from Theory to Practice
Featuring TenAsys® INtime®

By John R. Malin and Sean D. Liming

Windows XP Embedded has grown into a popular operating system choice for embedded systems. The low development cost is a big reason, with off the shelf hardware, a full line of device drivers available, standard development tools for applications and custom drivers with Visual Studio, and the ability to use desktop applications that run in Windows XP Pro.  Different programming solutions such Adobe® Flash™, Adobe® Air™, Java, Silverlight, and .NET Framework allow users to create dynamic and custom branded user interfaces. Deterministic response, a.k.a. real-time, is one aspect that Windows lacks. Being a general purpose operation system, the Windows Kernel doesn’t provide the deterministic response that true real-time operating systems like QNX™, VxWorks, or uCOS provide. Direct programmatic access to hardware under Windows is not supported, requiring a custom Windows driver solution to be developed for all hardware interaction.

Some developers have tried to program in Ring 0 / kernel layer, but the consumption of processor resources can interfere with the timing of the kernel and hurt overall system performance.

TenAsys® INtime® adds on the real-time, deterministic response to Windows by adding a second kernel. Using Visual Studio, you can write real-time applications that take advantage of the INtime kernel and access hardware directly, while still having access to the rich GUI of Widows.

Developing real-time applications is no simple task, though. Timing is everything to the system. The more complex the system the more attention to detail is required. Real-Time Application Programming featuring TenAsys’ INtime provides the core foundation to go from understanding real-time concepts to putting them to use in applications.

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: Welcome to Real-Time Development
2. Real-Time Basics
3. INtime Architecture and Development Tools Overview
4. Process and Threads
5. Inter-thread Communications and Synchronization
6. Memory Management
7. Windows Programming and Hardware Access
8. INtime and Windows® Embedded Standard 2009 / Windows® XP Embedded

ISBN-10: 1-933324-54-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-933324-54-8
Paperback
238 Pages
Sept. 2006

No longer in print

Windows Embedded for Point of Service / POS for .NET Step-by-Step

By Sean Liming with John R. Malin

Windows XP Embedded is growing in popularity as a solution for many embedded systems. Built on Windows XP Embedded, Windows Embedded for Point of Service address the basic operating system needs for those developing point of service solutions.

To go with the WEPOS platform, POS for .NET is the .NET programming solution of the Unified POS (UPOS) standard. POS for .NET allows POS developers to write one application that support POS devices from different equipment manufacturers. WEPOS / POS for .NET Step-By-Step provides a foundation for those interested in learning the basics of WEPOS and POS for .Net.

The book consists of nine (9) chapters broken into two parts: WEPOS installation and configuration, and working with POS for .NET. Following a “Learn-by-doing” philosophy, there are many hands-on, step-by-step exercises.

Topics Cover:

• WEPOS Unattended Installation, Remote Installation, and Remote Boot
• Customizing the WEPOS Platform
• POS for .NET Architecture
• Creating and Managing Service Objects
• Several POS for .NET applications written in VB .NET and using a few POS devices: bar code scanner, MSR, line display, cash drawer, and receipt printer.
• 18 hands on exercises

ISBN:1932373969 Paperback
340 Pages
Jan 2005

Printed Book - Out of Stock
US $100.00

Kindle Edition
ISBN: 9780984280131
August 2011
US $45.00

Toolkit
US $120.00

Windows XP Embedded Supplemental Toolkit - Now Available on Kindle!
Covering Windows XP Embedded SP2

By Sean D. Liming

Windows XP Embedded Supplemental Toolkit is the anticipated follow on to the popular Windows XP Embedded Advanced. The toolkit consists of 17 chapters that introduce many of the new features and solutions for XPe Service Pack 2 such as:

USB flash boot solution (printed edition only) Image cloning and EWF Security methods Hibernate Once, Resume Many System Management Services System Update Services EWF API programming (including a .NET 1.1 solution) Wireless connectivity Trapping hot keys

and much more. There are 50 new tips-and-tricks, 23 lab exercises, and 4 new development tools to help creating components, finding dependencies, and documenting configurations.

Paperback
ISBN:0929392779
700 Pages
Sept. 2003

US $60.00

Kindle Edition
ISBN 13: 978-0-9842801-5-5
ISBN 10: 0-9842801-5-4
Sept. 2011

Price $45.00

Windows XP Embedded Advanced - Now Available on Kindle!

By Sean D. Liming

Windows XP Embedded Advanced (XPEA) was written to provide an in-depth how-to guide for OEMs and developers looking to develop with Windows XP Embedded. Although the book title says “Advanced”, the book's content ranges from beginners to advanced developers looking for a reference. Included are instructions for installing the development tools, building a first XP Embedded operating system, downloading it to the target device, and running the newly created OS from the target. Also provided are insights on developing Windows XP Embedded Images. In addition, key differences between Windows XP Embedded and NT Embedded, its immediate predecessor, are covered, as are recent updates to the operating system. All of the development tools are covered, including embedded features such as headless operation, booting from CD-ROM, and remote access and administration. An advanced topics section provides detailed instruction on subjects such as boot-time reduction, booting from flash memory devices, multiprocessor systems, and dual video systems.

If you are looking for the CD - the CD contents can be found on the book page.

ISBN:092939268X Paperback
240 Pages
May 2000
US $5.00

Windows NT Embedded Step-By-Step

By Sean D. Liming

Windows NT Embedded Step-by-Step is designed to help engineers build embedded systems using Windows NT Embedded. Rather than trying to educate by simply providing line after line of text and code, the book actually walks the reader through exercises that can be completed with a desktop development system and target device. The exercises in the book have been carefully selected to be representative of real world situations that developers will face in the process of completing their own designs. By literally working through exercises step-by-step, developers will find that they can easily build very powerful and reliable operating systems. There's no substitute for learning by doing, and the breadth of the exercises contained within provides a knowledge base that will assist the reader in quickly creating new, functionally rich solutions.

Contents : Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Target Designer – Creating NTE Images; Chapter 3 Embedded Features; Chapter 4 Component Designer - Developing KDFs; Chapter 5 Exploring Other Components and Features; Chapter 6 Deployment Strategies; Chapter 7 Resources Pages : 240