Last updated: 25 September 2009


MicroProcessor Engineering Limited offers a range of consultancy services. We can provide assistance for software application, compiler development and extension, and also hardware design and build. A customer recently remarked:
"If we had started with you we would be two and a half years ahead."


Recent Applications

Racing car instrumentation
RFID tag interfaces
USB host interface
Vending machine controller
Biometrics scanner
Industrial networking
Security video viewer
Uninterruptible power supplies
Autoclave
Bomb disposal manipulator
Anaesthetic ventilators
Firmware upgrade mechanisms
Windows support
Industrial controller


Typical Compiler Requests

Device drivers
Extensions
RISC compilers
SNMP MIB compiler
Language extensions
Portable binary code systems
32 bit 80x86 real-mode target
C to Forth Compiler


Hardware Consultancy

System cost reduction
Custom ARM CPU boards
Intelligent comms card
Custom peripherals


Forth Training

Standard courses

Architectural Introduction to Forth (AIF):
An intensive three-day course for those with little or no experience of Forth, but with programming experience. The AIF course provides an introduction to the architecture of a Forth system. AIF shows, by teaching and by practical example, how software can be coded, tested and debugged quickly and efficiently, using Forth's interactivity. This course can be extended to five days (AIF+) to cover advanced topics and best-practice management of Forth (and other language) projects.

Embedded Software for Hardware Engineers (ESHE):
A three-day course for hardware and firmware engineers needing to construct real-time embedded applications using Forth cross-compilers. Includes multitasking and writing interrupt handlers.

Tailored courses

Quick Start Course (QSC):
A very hands-on tailored course on your site using your own hardware, and includes installation of a target Forth on your hardware, approaches to writing device drivers, designing a framework for your application and whatever else you need. The course is usually three days long.

Other custom courses we provide are for Open Boot and Open Firmware. These are derived from the AIF course above.


Charging

Consultancy can be provided either on a fixed price basis or at a daily rate.


Experience

MPE has 25 years experience of application programming using Forth. Nearly all the software products mentioned on this website have been written in-house using MPE Forths. This means that the MPE team has a wealth of experience.


Project Management

Experience is nothing if we do not learn from it. MPE's project management is derived from our 24 years of application experience within the company itself, and from our experiences before that. MPE has had experience of small and large projects both domestic and international. MPE was the coordinating partner for a multinational European Commission ESPRIT project.


Register of Forth Professionals

MPE maintains a list of experienced Forth professionals available for on-site contract work or as permanent employees. Project management can be provided by our permanent staff.