Importance of writing portable code
Hardware projects mature, evolve, and adapt to market needs and supply chain conditions. Between 2020 and 2022, the global semiconductor industry faced a severe supply chain crisis, primarily triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and worsened by several factors. Lockdowns disrupted production, while soaring demand for electronics (e.g., laptops, servers) collided with miscalculations in the automotive sector. Carmakers initially canceled chip orders, then scrambled to restock as demand rebounded.
As a result, many components became scarce, overpriced, or unavailable altogether. Products had to adapt by replacing electronic components such as sensors, drivers, communication modules, or even microcontrollers. This, in turn, required firmware modifications to match the new hardware.
For well-written firmware, this adaptation was relatively straightforward and involved implementing only hardware-specific interfaces. For example, if a product used...
