Software development for an open architecture test system

Abstract

An open architecture test system is one that allows the seamless integration of externally developed capabilities. These capabilities include both software-only solutions as well as third party hardware modules, and the software required to support them. This paper will address the topic of developing software against an open architecture test system. This will encompass both the software-only and hardware support facets of the development effort. The notion of interface-based programming as a means to achieve this goal will be presented. A set of required "pieces" will be defined for both of these development activities. The OPENSTAR? system will be used as a vehicle to motivate the discussion with a concrete example.