ECE 423Embedded Computer Systems
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Specification and design of embedded systems, specification languages, hardware/software co-design, performance estimation, co-simulation, verification, validation, embedded architectures, processor architectures and software synthesis, system-on-a-chip paradigm, retargetable code generation and optimization, verification and validation, environmental issues and considerations.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Complete 1 of the following
- Enrolled in H-Software Engineering
- Enrolled in a BASc program
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4638 | 0 / 54 | MF 14:30–15:50 Jan 27 16:00–17:20 Feb 24 16:00–17:20 Mar 17 16:00–17:20 Apr 7 16:00–17:20 |
| LEC 701 | 1872 | 27 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 201 | 4642 | 0 / 54 | Online or by arrangement |
| TUT 101 | 4639 | 0 / 54 | M 20:00–20:50 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
20% liked it5% easy25% useful
From 5 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Did not enjoy this course overall. Large emphasis on HLS and computation models (Kahn, synchronous data flow, state machines) pre-midterm. Post midterm covered power, memory that was more useful/practical to me. I would have enjoyed more focus on the latter half of the course. Given all the digital design work I've done has been RTL, unless you have specific interest or desire to work with HLS, it did not seem very useful to me.
Labs were not great. Lab 1 was to rewrite some C code to read from an SD card (Pretty simple, felt like busy work). Lab 2 was to add HLS pragmas to C code to run on the FPGA (this was painful and not covered in lab manual well IMO). Lab 3 was to create a schedule…May 2023 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
I had this class with Andrew Morton. It slightly pains me to leave this review as he is overall a very nice prof. However I found the course learning objectives were unclear, and most of the content is a disorganized mash up of things from previous courses.
The assignments for this course were extremely long, difficult, and not that useful. Most of the time is spent fighting the compiler and tool chain (which realistically if you want to be an FPGA dev, your life will be like that). However, I feel like for a course that is not the best use of time.Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Among the worst courses of my entire undergrad. The labs were confusing and each required about 20 hours. Last lab wasn't even possible for us to get working.
Lab manual was nearly 100 pages but still did not provide enough detail to be actually useful in following.
The labs were not super related to course content except for the 4 -5 lectures that were required to actually begin work on the lab.
Labs were so long and complicated that the TA wasn't able to provide support beyond recommending starting from scratch.
Would highly recommend avoiding this course. The content was mostly academic anyways, not specific to industry.
Some of the theory was interesting but the labs make it worth…Apr 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
27 posts and comments in 24 threads mention ECE 423, July 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Winter 2024
Engineering courses as non-math courses for CS majors 2 points, 7 comments
“Does anyone know if ECE courses can count towards the non-math part of the CS degree? My friend told me his advisor said yes but wanted to confirm since I'm in 4B and want to graduate on time lol”
u/djao: “Anything non-math can count towards the non-math units degree requirement, but CS specifically has elective depth and elective breadth requirements, which form the bulk of the non-math courses …”
u/tendstwofiftytwo: “… As a CS AI spec student who is taking ece 423,327 and 124 to check the box for the engineering requirement of the ai spec, I was told I may use these courses as non math credits. However ece 380 and ece 481. …”
Is ECE423 that hard??? 2 points, 2 comments
u/Trocktu: “I am right now enrolled in ECE423. From what I have heard, the course is really difficult, but I don't have more options. Should I drop the course?”
Fall 2023
ECE 4B Electives 1 point, 0 comments
u/namomontbleau: “Opinions on ECE423 and ECE459? How did you find the course, what was the workload like? Do both or do one? etc!!”
Spring 2023
What are your core courses? 8 points, 11 comments
“Basically title - What are several courses that you think really define your program? Any thoughts on them, and how they went? Looking forward to the discussion (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\:･ﾟ✧”
u/Xierumeng: “Computer engineering: ECE 224 ECE 320 ECE 327 ECE 350 ECE 423 ECE 455 Honourable mention: ECE 105 ECE 106 Douglas Harder Peter Levine Paul Ward The ECE advisors”
Winter 2023
4B CE technical electives 1 point, 1 comment
u/Forsaken_Dark_1353: “looking for opinions on course load, difficulty, projects etc in the following classes: ECE423, ECE459,ECE495, and ECE406. has anyone taken 423? there is no information out there for this one”
Fall 2022
taking Digital Hardware Specialization 1 point, 5 comments
“I'm currently 3A CS. Kinda interested in those low-level stuff. I'm wondering if it is too late to take the Digital Hardware Specialization (considering all the courses that are required). …”
u/2kofawsome: “Too late, you need to apply in 1A to have it fit https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/current/programs/dighard/”
u/2kofawsome: “… If you look at the courses, ECE 124 -> ECE 222 -> ECE 327 -> ECE 423 which means you need 4 terms (and also you likely already took CS251 which conflicts with ECE 222). …”
Anyone taken ECE 423? 1 point, 1 comment
u/juicysputnik: “Just curious since there's not a lot of info on uw flow how that class is.”
Spring 2022
ECE 432 3 points, 0 comments
“Anyone taken ECE 432 with John Long ? PM me if you have.”
u/rapsforlife647: “Hey OP u/AffectionateSun9217! Did you end up taking ECE 423? How was it?”
Winter 2022
Cigarette Daydreams 18 points, 6 comments
u/uw-ce: “… It was a take home ECE423 final exam. From what I recall, it was a difficult exam and took me many hours - but in retrospect I am glad. A good way to finish off five years of undergrad. Something easy just wouldn't have been right. …”
Taking ece 423 as a cs student 1 point, 0 comments
Winter 2021
Software engineering vs Computer engineering 8 points, 17 comments
“What exactly is the difference between the two? Ideally I want to work/study in either the software or robotics sector and I’m not sure what I should be applying for next year. …”
u/a2xia: “… reprogrammable hardware (ECE 327 Digital Hardware Systems), computer architecture (ECE 429, ECE 423), internet networking (ECE 358, ECE 416), communication systems (ever wonder how AM/FM radio works? …”
Fall 2020
Confused about taking up Data Hardware option 1 point, 10 comments
u/DHoptionidkhelpncur: “… The ece courses that are required for ppl in the DH option are: GENE 123, ECE 124, ECE 224, ECE 327, ECE 423 and two more of my choosing. Are these super tough? Would trading these instead of a couple of CS courses dampen my strength in CS? …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them