Executive summary

This paper presents a case that mature, reliable Open Source Software (OSS) embedded development tools, popularly know as GNU Tools, are ready to be widely adopted as a business strategy and a solution to software tools obsolescence, vendor lock-in, and vanishing manufacturing sources as applied to embedded systems in complex, long lifecycle embedded computer systems that… are typical of high-end commercial Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Department of Defense (DoD) systems.

It is now common knowledge that maintenance costs increasingly dominate the overall program lifecycle cost. They can be as much as 60 to 80 percent of the total lifecycle cost. Moreover, software tools obsolescence has long been a major problem and cost driver with these systems, and due to increased systems lifetimes and lifecycle extensions, the problems are only getting worse.

On the hardware systems side, OEMs and the DoD have long recognized problems with using proprietary systems and the DoD has responded with policy guidance promoting Open Systems in acquisition programs as a method of improving weapon systems management and lowering costs. Current DoD policy for Open Systems is expressed in DoD 5000.2R and the DoD Joint Technical Architecture (JTA). The JTA lists the minimum set non-governmental standards needed to maximize interoperability and affordability within DoD. In sum, the JTA is a single unifying technical architecture for integrating all DoD system components.

Software development tools are one of those components, and this paper presents a case that OSS is an evolutionary extension to the Open Systems concept in that an entire software design is exposed to open review, collaboration, and extension rather than being limited to standards for functionality and interfaces. Widespread adoption of OSS as an extension of Open Systems management, acquisition, and development methodology would bring supportability, interoperability, and reuse for large software intensive systems to the next level of maturity.

The key benefits of OSS tools are cost reduction, tools obsolescence abatement, vendor lock-in prevention, and offerings from multiple sources. Because program costs and obsolescence issues are major drivers in long lifecycle projects, the authors believe after reviewing this White Paper, it will become evident to software managers and developers that there is a compelling case for Open Source Embedded Tools.

Read whitepaper (62KB PDF download)

The whitepaper is copyright © 2002 Microcross Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduced by LinuxDevices.com with permission.

 
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