On Target: Embedded Systems

Embedded Engineers Expect Software Code Base to Continue to Grow at Nearly 10% per Year

Recently released data from Venture Development Corporation’s (VDC) Embedded/Real-time and Mobile Application Operating Systems study leads to the conclusion that the overall embedded software code base may be growing at a rate of approximately 9% per year. Comparatively larger code size is not always an indicator of more complex system functionality, as smaller code bases often result from superior coding techniques and more efficient use of system resources. However, this data supports the idea that system complexity is driving the need for greater amounts of software content per project. Because of their correlation with relatively larger overall code bases, VDC... Read more →

AVAILABLE NOW - VDC RELEASES EMBEDDED ENGINEERING SURVEY DATA FOR 2008

With the increasing complexity of embedded software and hardware designs, the 2008 end-user data books will provide insight into the behavior, opinions, and demographics of embedded engineers, the degree to which embedded system engineering tasks are converging, and key system engineering trends likely to impact embedded systems manufacturers and solution providers over the short and long term. This end-user data is based on detailed Web survey responses collected in the February to April 2008 timeframe from almost eight hundred embedded systems engineers worldwide that will offer an understanding about the dynamics of the embedded market as they relate to current... Read more →

Cadence Withdraws Bid for Mentor

Today Cadence announced that is has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Mentor Graphics for $1.6 billion, citing a revised outlook given the present economic climate and Mentor's failure to engage in substantive discussions. At the same time, the company announced the authorization of a stock repurchase of $500 million subject to market conditions. Mentor responded to the announcement, saying that Cadence's claims were inconsistent with Cadence's previous public statements and discussions with Mentor, that it believed Cadence was facing challenges in obtaining financing, and that the FTC's actions indicated that the proposed transaction would be protracted. Read more →

Multi-Core and Multiprocessing Support Remain Low Priorities in Selection of Embedded OS

Natick, Massachusetts – August 5, 2008 – Recently published research by Venture Development Corporation (VDC) indicates that many embedded developers still do not yet consider multiprocessing and multi-core architecture support a highly critical factor influencing their selection of embedded operating systems for current projects. Moreover, these criteria remained of relatively low importance even to those developers who indicated that they were using a multi-core or multi-core and multiprocessor design for their current project. While their preferences did indicate a discernable increase in the relative importance of support for multi-core architectures, their top-eight section criteria remained consistent with those of the... Read more →