February 1998, Issue 91

Codesign
The Evolving Relationship Between Hardware and Software

As a methodology, codesign requires a fair bit of maturing before it can enjoy the kind of widespread adoption hoped for by the companies developing codesign products.

In the coming year, many new and upgraded products are anxiously being expected from development-tool vendors that could push the methodology into acceptance at mainstream system OEMs.

But, it’s certainly true that codesign has some other hurdles to overcome. Many of these rise primarily from the mind-set of engineers involved in hardware and software design.

For now, sit back and observe. Only time will tell what will develop.

Richard Moseley, principal staff engineer with Motorola, currently works with integrated systems, directing a systems and design support team invloved in ColdFire and 680x0 systems using the FlexCore standard cell-design methodogy. Richard has been involved in semicustom library development, CAD, and design since 1982. You may reach him at moseley@oakhill.sps.mot.com.