ESL and software intersect in two ways—the process of creating executable software using ESL methodologies and the use of ESL models as the run-time environment for developing executable software. The former is a natural outgrowth of the refinement of ESL models to realized implementations, where software running on one or more processors is just one of many implementation choices. Use of ESL models for software development is important, and is emerging for many reasons that result from the rise of SoCs.

In this chapter, we first review the classical embedded software development methods to serve as a contrast to the newer methods based on ESL methodologies, and then discuss ESL for software development and development of software using ESL models as the execution platform.

12.1 Introduction
12.2 Classical Software Development Methods for Embedded Systems and SoCs
    12.2.1 Performance Estimation
    12.2.2 Classical Development Tools
12.3 Developing Run-Time Software from ESL Models
    12.3.1 UML Code Generation Case Study
12.4 Developing Software Using ESL Models as Run-Time Environments
    12.4.1 Classes of ESL Models for Software Development
    12.4.2 Observability for Debug and Analysis
    12.4.3 Software Debug and Analysis Tools for Highly Observable Systems
12.5 Provocative Thoughts
12.6 Summary
12.7 The Prescription

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