The integrated control/distributed power software development shop

Abstract

In the constantly expanding spectrum of microprocessor applications, there is a large class of systems which used to be implemented with large or minicomputers, in which new software engineering problems have emerged. Typically, these systems involve quite a few hierarchical microprocessors-they perform fairly sophisticated control functions, and must comply with stringent reliability and availability demands. Though the distribution of functions significantly reduces the complexity of some of the technical problems usually encountered in such systems, the volume of software to be developed remains large, and system tests are still a problem. Furthermore, the development systems offered on the market by microprocessor manufacturers or independent vendors are very well adapted to the development of small applications which involve a unique microprocessor and a limited volume of code, but they are insufficient for the development of large systems. The system builder engaged in distributed system development will, therefore, have problems to solve, until the ideal support software and hardware are made available on the market.