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Embedded Market Forecasters Report Finds Higher Development Costs for Embedded Linux

  • no.1565
  • 2003-07-17
Embedded Market Forecasters July 16, 2003 Leslie Drohan -- Study shows that Windows Embedded project development is 43% faster and costs 68% less on average than projects developed with Embedded Linux -- FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – July 16, 2003 – Embedded Market Forecasters, a strategic consulting and embedded research firm, today released a report entitled “Total Cost of Development: A comprehensive cost estimation framework for evaluating embedded development platforms” and survey results that provide the first cost-based evaluation framework for embedded device manufacturers considering the Windows Embedded platform or Embedded Linux. The Total Cost of Development framework helps embedded device manufacturers assess and estimate software costs to enhance design results and minimize financial risk. The Embedded Market Forecasters report includes a survey of 50 OEMs that used various distributions of Embedded Linux and 50 OEMs that used the Microsoft Windows Embedded development platform, including Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded, on a worldwide basis across a wide range of devices and applications utilizing 32-bit architectures. These devices and applications included consumer electronics, handheld computers, industrial controllers, network gateways, point-of-sale kiosks, set-top boxes and thin clients, among many others. The total cost of development for each project was estimated by multiplying the average embedded design project time to market by the software engineering team size and cost. According to the survey results: · Time to Market: Windows Embedded design projects were started and brought to market in 8.1 months on average, versus 14.3 months for an Embedded Linux project. 43% faster project development with Windows Embedded. · Software Engineering Resources: The average software engineering team size for Windows Embedded projects was 7.9 people, versus 14.2 people for an Embedded Linux project. 44% smaller software engineering teams with Windows Embedded. · Total Cost of Development: The estimated average total cost of development for a Windows Embedded design project was $480,000, versus $1.5 million for an Embedded Linux project. 68% lower total cost of development with Windows Embedded. (The salaries for an Embedded Windows developer and an Embedded Linux developer were assumed to be the same for purposes of the analysis.) "Embedded Linux can be effective in distinct scenarios, but does not broadly translate into lower cost or faster development,” said embedded technology authority Dr. Jerry Krasner, the author of the study. “Respondent data consistently demonstrated that the Windows Embedded set of operating system and integrated development environments provided a clear and substantial time to market and cost advantage to developers. Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded appear to deliver a significant total cost of development advantage due to their greater degree of maturity, feature-richness, componentization, integrated tool chain, and parallel development process.” Embedded Market Forecasters’ “Total Cost of Development: A comprehensive cost estimation framework for evaluating embedded development platforms” report and survey results can be found at www.embedded-forecast.com. About Embedded Market Forecasters The premier market intelligence and advisory firm in the embedded technology industry, Embedded Market Forecasters (EMF) is the embedded market research division of American Technology International, Inc. We specialize in providing high-quality data and expert analysis to support our clients’ ability to assess the opportunities, risks, and competitive issues involved with developing and deploying embedded technologies. EMF has extensive experience providing both multi-client and custom research on topics including embedded boards, buses, software, hardware and development tools markets as well as embedded technology applications including embedded systems, digital signal processors (DSPs), FPGAs, single board computers, communications/IT, and multimedia. Our clients range from startups to Global 100 companies worldwide. Founded by Dr. Jerry Krasner, a recognized authority on embedded markets, product development and channel distribution, EMF is headquartered in Framingham, Mass. Author Profile Jerry Krasner, Ph.D., MBA is Vice President of Embedded Market Forecasters and its parent company, American Technology International. A recognized authority with over 30 years’ embedded industry experience, Dr. Krasner was formerly Chairman of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, and Chairman of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Wentworth Institute of Technology and Bunker Hill Community College. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Krasner served as President of Biocybernetics, Inc. and CLINCO, Inc., Executive Vice President of Plasmedics, Inc. and Clinical Development Corporation, and Director of Medical Sciences for the Carnegie-Mellon Institute of Research. Earlier, he was Senior Engineer at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. Dr. Krasner earned BSEE and MSEE degrees from Washington University, a Ph.D. in Medical Physiology / Biophysics from Boston University and an MBA from Nichols College. He is a visiting professor at the Universidad de Las Palmas (Spain) where he is recognized for his work in neurosciences and computer technology.