Firmware engineering: methods and tools for firmware specification and design

ABSTRACT

Microprogramming has become the means of implementing the machine language instructions of a conventional computer. In the future, the vertical migration of functions from the software levels of a system to the microprogramming level may become equally important. The vertical migration of functions of a computer is undertaken to realize architectures having improved performance, functionality, reliability, or data security. The increased volume of microcode brought about by vertical migration tends to increase the complexity of the firmware development process and calls for a firmware engineering discipline that provides tools for the design and specification, implementation, validation, and maintenance of firmware. We present a rationale for the specification and procedural design of firmware based on the use of an appropriately defined specification language. The features of such a language and the supporting software system are outlined and demonstrated by the example of an existing APL-based firmware development system.

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