Hardware/software codesign: a perspective

The authors propose that rather than maintain the traditional distinction between hardware and software engineering, a more fruitful approach to computer system design is to combine the hardware and software perspectives from the earliest stages of the design process and exploit the design flexibility and efficient allocation of function that such an approach offers. Since current hardware and software design methodologies have their differences, a unified codesign approach must be developed that will comprise both the hardware and software points of view. Increasingly, computer system design of the future will require this codesign approach. Custom chip design and ASIC design are discussed. Issues in codesign are considered