Some issues to consider when choosing embedded design software

“No matter which industry you are in, competition is very difficult. Similarly, the development of embedded software is sometimes under great pressure, not only to make the work faster than ever, but also more effective than ever. This means that software with higher performance and fewer “errors” can be provided.

“

No matter which industry you are in, competition is very difficult. Similarly, the development of embedded software is sometimes under great pressure, not only to make the work faster than ever, but also more effective than ever. This means that software with higher performance and fewer “errors” can be provided.

Your ability to perform this operation usually depends on the embedded software design tool you use. You need tools to build software quickly and efficiently. So what factors should be considered when choosing an embedded software design tool? Here are the four most important functions to consider.

Function 1: Core support

Core support is the device you choose. The first thing you need to do is to ensure that the selected software supports the correct device. Therefore, first list the devices currently in use in the product. Then, check whether the embedded design software to be purchased supports these devices. It is possible that the new software does not need to support the equipment used in the old product. Next, consider the equipment to be used in the future. If the same applies, this can save some development costs.

Function 2: Ease of use

Ease of use is also a very important feature. Tools that are difficult to use can frustrate developers and extend development time.

Function 3: Support for commonly used functions

After testing the ease of use of the package, check out the support for other features you need. This may include support for real-time operating systems (RTOS) and communication hardware and software (such as USB, TCP/IP, and Bluetooth). If your design requires this function, and the embedded design software does not provide support for this function, you will spend a lot of time and money to design your own solutions.

In addition, another function that may be important in an application is the support of functional safety standards, such as ISO 26262, which provides guidance for software tool certification. If this is important to you, look for a tool that should provide a solution that supports the “increased confidence in use” and “software tool verification” qualification methods.

Function 4: Debug

No one can design the perfect software right away. This is especially true for today’s complex, high-performance applications. This means that developers will spend a lot of time debugging applications and spend a lot of time using debuggers. Therefore, the function and speed of the debugger have a great impact on time to market. Some features you might be looking for include:

Multiple information windows allow you to monitor variables, memory and stack

Complex breakpoints allow you to pause program execution based on instruction count, cycle count or timer count

Backup and restore memory to easily restore the system to a known state