The code
Embedded C for Cortex-M. It compiles. There are 3 real bugs in it: the kind that pass a bench test and fail in the field.
void accel_decode(const uint8_t raw[6], float g[3])
{
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
uint16_t v = (uint16_t)(raw[2 * i] << 8 | raw[2 * i + 1]);
int16_t s = v >> 4;
g[i] = s * 0.001f;
}
}
bool accel_read(float g[3])
{
uint8_t raw[6];
if (HAL_I2C_Mem_Read(&hi2c1, ACC_ADDR << 1, OUT_X_L, I2C_MEMADD_SIZE_8BIT,
raw, 6, 10) != HAL_OK) return false;
accel_decode(raw, g);
return true;
}What an interviewer expects
- Point to each line you'd stop in a code review.
- Say what actually breaks: the failure mode, not just the rule it violates.
- Fix it, then defend the fix when asked the follow-up.
The bugs, reference fixes and the follow-up question are in the practice app, after you've tried it.
Companies that test this
Matched on the skills each company's embedded roles emphasise.
Related challenges
Flag the lines, say what breaks, then fix it and build it with clang in your browser.
Find the bugs