Application development environments (ADEs) play
a critical, visible role in a test software framework. With these tools, the
system developer designs and integrates the system that takes measurements,
displays information to the end user, connects with other applications, and
much more. Due to the ever increasing role of software in test system
implementation, system developers will spend most of their development time
working with an ADE. It is critical to select an ADE that not only is easy to
use, but also can support multiple platforms and integrate easily with
measurement and control services such as drivers. Other features that should be
considered when selecting an ADE for the development of your test system are
its presentation and reporting features, how protected you are from the
obsolescence of the product, and what kind of training and support is available
worldwide.
Ease of
Use:
Because the ADE is where the heart of an automated system is developed, ease of use in these tools is critical to the productivity of software engineer. Ease of use goes beyond how quickly someone can get up and running. With easy-to-use ADEs, developers can easily integrate processing routines with multiple measurement devices, create sophisticated user interfaces, deploy and maintain an application, and modify the application as product designs evolve and system needs expand. Other features that should be included with the ADE include extensive documentation and example code.
Because the ADE is where the heart of an automated system is developed, ease of use in these tools is critical to the productivity of software engineer. Ease of use goes beyond how quickly someone can get up and running. With easy-to-use ADEs, developers can easily integrate processing routines with multiple measurement devices, create sophisticated user interfaces, deploy and maintain an application, and modify the application as product designs evolve and system needs expand. Other features that should be included with the ADE include extensive documentation and example code.
Platform
Independence:
Test software applications today target many different architectures. It is important that whatever ADE you choose can be flexible enough to support all these different architectures as seamlessly as possible. Different OSs such as Windows, Linux® and Mac OS X can offer different benefits depending on the application. Engineers should be able to port their code from one platform to the other. If your ADE is not compatible with these other platforms, you will need to use different ADEs for different projects and spend valuable time porting your existing intellectual property from one platform to the other.
Test software applications today target many different architectures. It is important that whatever ADE you choose can be flexible enough to support all these different architectures as seamlessly as possible. Different OSs such as Windows, Linux® and Mac OS X can offer different benefits depending on the application. Engineers should be able to port their code from one platform to the other. If your ADE is not compatible with these other platforms, you will need to use different ADEs for different projects and spend valuable time porting your existing intellectual property from one platform to the other.
Protection
against Obsolescence:
Standardizing on an ADE for the development of your test system is a big commitment. It is important that your investment is protected from the obsolescence of the product. One of the characteristics you should consider is the product track record of integrating with the latest software technologies and its commitment to protecting you against discontinuous shifts in test software development. Furthermore, the product should offer routine upgrades to add new functionality.
Standardizing on an ADE for the development of your test system is a big commitment. It is important that your investment is protected from the obsolescence of the product. One of the characteristics you should consider is the product track record of integrating with the latest software technologies and its commitment to protecting you against discontinuous shifts in test software development. Furthermore, the product should offer routine upgrades to add new functionality.
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