Embedded Performance and Optimization Questions

Practical techniques and trade offs for improving performance in resource constrained embedded systems. Candidates should be able to discuss reducing memory footprint, minimizing CPU cycles, and optimizing code size and execution speed. Topics include selecting data structures and algorithms for determinism, avoiding or managing dynamic allocation, stack and heap usage strategies, compiler optimization levels and pragmas, profile driven optimization, cache friendliness where relevant, and measuring worst case execution time. Interviewers may also probe power performance trade offs, when to accept complexity for speed, and strategies to validate performance gains.