Features of the Shell packages
API
Each package gives access to the communication facilities through an API (Application Programming Interface). They are easy to build into a software system, using calls in ANSI-C.
Portability
All our Shell packages are designed for portability to any system which has an ANSI-C compiler.The software has the following portability features
- compiler independent
- no conditional compilation
- C run-time library independent
- operating system independent
- CPU independent
- identical source code for all environments
Off-the-shelf Software Components
Our Shell packages are commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software components. For example, the Telecommand Encoder Shell is designed to be a component of a ground system in the same way that a VLSI telecommand decoder chip is a component of a spacecraft.These software components provide a way to
- save costs
- reduce timescales
- cut technical risks