Issues in the development of an integrated environment for embedded system design: Part A: user needs and commercial products

Abstract Today's embedded system designer has limited assistance in performing system design tasks but yet has a range of software tools to assist the implementation process. The availability of these tools is often the most important issue when selecting a particular microcontroller. In this paper the authors describe research performed to analyse the requirements for the development of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for embedded system design. Issues are considered from a users’ viewpoint in terms of the usability and functionality of the system, and the commercial products currently available in the market. The paper concludes with a description of the need and content of a new IDE to meet the users’ requirements.