Embedded software
Embedded software & embedded Flutter
Embedded Flutter interfaces (HMI) for Linux touch screens and connected devices: device communication, offline-first design, safe updates and performance.
Embedded software is where code meets the physical world: a touch screen on a device, a board running Linux, sensors and controllers on the other side of an interface. A growing part of my work as a software engineer is building those interfaces, mostly with Flutter, and making them as reliable as the hardware they control.
What I mean by embedded
For me, embedded work usually means:
- Embedded user interfaces (HMI) on Linux-based touch screens, built with Flutter.
- Communication between the interface and the device: typed APIs between the UI and device services, real-time data and commands.
- Connected devices that also talk to the cloud and to companion mobile apps.
I've also spoken publicly about running Flutter on Raspberry Pi.
Why Flutter for embedded interfaces
- One modern UI toolkit for the device screen, the companion mobile app and internal tools.
- Smooth, GPU-accelerated rendering and a fast development loop with hot reload.
- A large ecosystem and a growing number of companies shipping Flutter on embedded Linux.
What changes compared to mobile
Offline is normal. A device can't stop working because the internet is down. Critical flows must run locally, with the cloud as a bonus.
Hardware is modest. Embedded boards are far less powerful than a modern phone. I profile on the real device from day one and watch memory over long sessions, because devices run for hours or days without restarting.
Contracts matter. The API between the interface and the device services is a product in itself: typed, versioned and backwards compatible, so both sides can evolve safely.
Updates must be safe. There is no app store and no user tapping "update". Releases need to be staged and recoverable.
UX is physical. People use device screens standing, moving and at arm's length. Big touch targets, high contrast and glanceable information.
What I can help with
Flutter interfaces for embedded touch screens and connected devices, from prototype to production. Tell me about your project to talk about your device.