Appropriate for undergraduate and beginning graduate level courses on embedded systems or microprocessor based systems design in computer engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. The basic structure, operation, and design of embedded systems is presented in a stepwise fashion. A balanced treatment of both hardware and software is provided. The Intel 80C188EB microprocessor is used as the instructional example. Hardware is covered starting from the component level. Software development focuses on assembly language. The only background required is an introductory course in digital systems design.