Windows CE gains platform-independent device driver architecture

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Jul. 26, 2004

SciTech Software has ported its "radically different" approach to portable device drivers to Microsoft's Windows CE embedded operating system. SNAP (System Neutral Access Protocol) represents an effort to solve what the company calls the "driver crisis" through abstraction layers that are meant to enable more efficient reuse of driver code across a spectrum of hardware and operating systems, according to SciTech.

SciTech says it developed SNAP Graphics IES (Industrial Embedded Systems) in response to increased demand for a customizable, "industrial strength" portable graphics driver solution for embedded and industrial systems. The package is said to provide developers with an off-the-shelf solution for graphic device support, although the SNAP architecture itself (see figure) is applicable to more than just graphics.

SciTech SNAP Driver Architecture

According to SciTech, the SNAP driver approach enables companies to quickly adapt to changes in market demand and reduce the cost of those changes. That flexibility allows companies to take advantage of new and more powerful hardware, or implement cost reductions, without having to rework custom application software, SciTech says.

The SNAP architecture is centered around a unique Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), combined with pre-compiled binaries that run on any operating system within a single processor family, according to SciTech. The company has published a whitepaper that describes SNAP in more detail.

Products available from SciTech include an "SDK" for developing new "OS shell drivers", a "DDK" for developing new hardware-specific interfaces, and ready-to-use "certified" binary drivers based on the SNAP architecture. Additionally, ready-to-use binary drivers are available for free download from SciTech's website for "non-commercial" use, which covers personal use as well as evaluation and testing activities prior to commercial use. Downloadable drivers for Windows CE will be available in one to two weeks, SciTech says.

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