A method of reading code symbols using a digital image capture and processing system which includes: an image formation and detection subsystem; an illumination subsystem; an illumination control subsystem; a digital image processing subsystem; and an input/output subsystem; and a system control subsystem. In the illustrative embodiment, a micro-computing platform implements the digital image processing subsystem, the input/output subsystem and the system control subsystem. The micro-computing platform includes a microprocessor, a memory architecture, and a multi-tier modular software architecture responsive to the generation of a triggering event within the system. Triggering events can be generated by an automatic object detector or by a manually actuated trigger switch.