Simplify debugging to reduce the complexity of embedded system development

Image Credits: Marcus Lund (opens in a new window) / Getty Images

Embedded systems are getting more complex. The complexity of software projects in the automotive industry has increased over the past decade.

Most hardware is composed of multiple electronic boards and is powered by software. Adding features increases development complexity and increases the amount of time it takes to complete a project. According to a University of Cambridge report, developers spend up to 50% of their time on coding.

There are ways to reduce the complexity of a system. Let's see what we can find.

Earlier is better

Debugging will only be efficient if you have the right information.

During development, testing, and in the field, bugs will pop up. Resolving a bug can increase costs by as much as 15 times and lead to user frustration, as well as creating challenges associated with updating embedded devices that are in production.

It is possible to identify bugs at the early stages of your product's development. This will allow you to get a better idea of what's going on before other variables are introduced.

Manage versioning

To reproduce a bug, you need a device that is the same as it was when the bug first appeared. There are three different variables that can be looked at when issues crop up.

1. The software version. This is the version of each feature. This applies to the code you build as well as to potential dependencies, such as imported libraries.
2. The board version. Specifically, the design of the board. Board design changes constantly as components are added/removed or moved around.