When developing an embedded system, deciding which portion of the system to design and which to buy off the shelf can be daunting. By designing and building a custom solution, you can customize the end result and optimize costs, but any design specification changes or oversights can cause lengthy and expensive delays. Alternatively, an off-the-shelf platform increases the cost of goods sold (COGS) and you may pay for features that are not necessary for your design. Nevertheless, off-the-shelf systems typically provide a faster design and validation cycle and, thefore, shorter time to market.

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National Instruments