By Colin Walls, Mentor Graphics Embedded Systems Division
Perhaps the most interesting thing about working with embedded systems is variability. Each device has a unique hardware and software architecture and its own individual functionality. As a result, it's a difficult challenge to design software development tools and operating systems that accommodate the enormous range of requirements.
And during tough economic conditions, it can be unwise for developers to compromise their core competencies by outsourcing. Developers are however, more likely to outsource non-differentiated components that are available commercially (Figure 1 below).
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| Figure 1. As much as 30% of the design cycle is focused on non-differentiated activity. |