{"id":2492,"date":"2026-06-27T20:58:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/?post_type=projekt&#038;p=2492"},"modified":"2026-06-27T20:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T20:58:11","slug":"middleware","status":"publish","type":"projekt","link":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/projekte\/middleware\/","title":{"rendered":"Middleware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Content<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#das-wichtigste-in-kurze\">The most important information in brief<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#was-ist-middleware\">What is middleware?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#warum-braucht-ein-gerat-uberhaupt-middleware\">Why does a device need middleware at all?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#welche-aufgabe-ubernimmt-middleware-zwischen-hardware-und-anwendung\">Middleware acts as an intermediary between hardware and applications.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#weitere-fachliche-einordnung\">Further professional classification<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#typische-ausgangslagen-in-middleware-projekten\">Typical starting positions<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#technische-abhangigkeiten\">Technical dependencies<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ubergang-von-analyse-zu-umsetzung\">Transition from analysis to implementation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#beispiele-fur-middleware\">Examples of middleware software<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#unsere-leistungen\">Our Services<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"das-wichtigste-in-kurze\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The most important information in brief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-icon-list stk-block-icon-list stk-block stk-ee3ac56\" data-block-id=\"ee3ac56\"><svg style=\"display:none\"><defs><g id=\"stk-icon-list__icon-svg-def-ee3ac56\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 190 190\"><polygon points=\"173.8,28.4 60.4,141.8 15.7,97.2 5.1,107.8 60.4,163 184.4,39 173.8,28.4\"\/><\/svg><\/g><\/defs><\/svg><ul class=\"stk-block-icon-list__ul stk-block-icon-list--column\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-stackable-icon-list-item stk-block-icon-list-item stk-block stk-d1878a6\" data-block-id=\"d1878a6\"><div class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__content\"><span class=\"stk--svg-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk--inner-svg\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><use xlink:href=\"#stk-icon-list__icon-svg-def-ee3ac56\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div><\/span><span class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__text\">Middleware forms a connection layer between the operating system, hardware, applications, and communication.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-stackable-icon-list-item stk-block-icon-list-item stk-block stk-d4da0b2\" data-block-id=\"d4da0b2\"><div class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__content\"><span class=\"stk--svg-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk--inner-svg\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><use xlink:href=\"#stk-icon-list__icon-svg-def-ee3ac56\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div><\/span><span class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__text\">Middleware helps make complex systems more modular and maintainable.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-stackable-icon-list-item stk-block-icon-list-item stk-block stk-17fab12\" data-block-id=\"17fab12\"><div class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__content\"><span class=\"stk--svg-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk--inner-svg\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><use xlink:href=\"#stk-icon-list__icon-svg-def-ee3ac56\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div><\/span><span class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__text\">Middleware can distribute data, encapsulate interfaces, and decouple applications.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-stackable-icon-list-item stk-block-icon-list-item stk-block stk-c6893c9\" data-block-id=\"c6893c9\"><div class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__content\"><span class=\"stk--svg-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk--inner-svg\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\"><use xlink:href=\"#stk-icon-list__icon-svg-def-ee3ac56\"><\/use><\/svg><\/div><\/span><span class=\"stk-block-icon-list-item__text\">It is often used when multiple software modules need to work together reliably.<\/span><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-image stk-block-image stk-block stk-c6ab3fa\" data-block-id=\"c6ab3fa\"><style>.stk-c6ab3fa .stk-img-wrapper{width:70% !important;}.stk-c6ab3fa .stk-img-wrapper img{border-radius:var(--stk--preset--border-radius--xx-large, 32px) !important;}<\/style><figure><span class=\"stk-img-wrapper stk-image--shape-stretch\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"stk-img wp-image-1563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/embedded-software-support-hardware-support-pcbdesign-pickplace-1200.jpg\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\"Middleware Developer Embedded Software \"\/><\/span><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"was-ist-middleware\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is middleware?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware is an intermediate software layer that provides functions without being the actual business logic of the application itself. It lies between the hardware-level layer and the overlying applications. In an embedded system, for example, it can bundle access to sensors, actuators, memory, bus systems, network interfaces, or internal communication channels. The application then does not need to know every detail of the hardware, every register, or every protocol-specific feature directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a project, middleware often arises where a system is no longer a single monolithic application. As soon as multiple components exchange data, different tasks need to be coordinated over time, or different interfaces need to be served, a structured connection layer is required. This layer can forward messages, standardize data formats, abstract hardware functions, or encapsulate protocol flows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For PICKPLACE, middleware is not an isolated software component, but rather a part of the system architecture. It must fit the characteristics of the hardware, the requirements of the application, and the communication paths. In practice, therefore, work does not begin with a single interface, but with questions such as: Which modules access the same data? Which components are allowed to work directly with hardware? Which tasks run cyclically, event-driven, or are time-critical? Which functions should remain interchangeable later on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware can vary greatly in its implementation. In small devices, it might consist of a manageable abstraction layer for peripherals, states, and messages. In larger systems, it can encompass multiple services, such as configuration management, protocol translation, internal data distribution, diagnostic access, or communication managers. The critical factor is not the size of the middleware, but its role in the system: it reduces direct dependencies between the application, hardware, and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A typical case is an electronic control unit that captures, processes, and transmits sensor data to other devices. Without middleware, multiple software components might access drivers, communication stacks, or global data structures directly. Changes to an interface would then affect many parts of the code. With clearly defined middleware, these accesses are managed through specified services. This makes it clear which component uses which data, where transformations occur, and which interfaces are affected by a change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"warum-braucht-ein-gerat-uberhaupt-middleware\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does a device need middleware at all?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A device needs middleware when the direct coupling between application and hardware becomes too complex, or when multiple software modules need to cooperate in a controlled manner. This particularly applies to systems that grow, form variants, or are maintained over long periods. In such projects, it is often not enough to integrate individual functions directly into the application. The software requires a structure in which responsibilities are separated and interfaces are clearly described.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One reason for this is reuse. If the same application is to run on multiple hardware variants, it must not be tied to every specific pin assignment, communication module, or driver implementation. Middleware can introduce an abstraction between the application and the hardware. The application then calls a functionally named function, while the middleware decides which low-level hardware implementation is behind it. In the event of a hardware change, not the entire application needs to be adapted, but primarily the affected connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another reason is maintainability. In long-lived systems, errors are fixed, functions are added, protocols are extended, or components are replaced. If all layers depend directly on each other, every change becomes difficult to assess. Middleware creates defined transitions. This allows for a more precise check of whether a change affects only a driver layer, requires a protocol adjustment, or has implications for the application. This does not replace analysis, but it reduces the number of unresolved dependencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware can also support decoupling for devices with multiple software modules. A module then doesn't need to know which other module generates specific information. It uses a defined interface or receives a message through a specified mechanism. This facilitates later expansions because new modules can be added without directly modifying existing components. However, the boundaries of this decoupling must be deliberately defined within the project. Too many intermediate layers can make a system difficult to understand, while too few lead to tight coupling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"welche-aufgabe-ubernimmt-middleware-zwischen-hardware-und-anwendung\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Middleware acts as an intermediary between hardware and applications.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware primarily takes on the task of translating technical details into usable services between hardware and applications. The hardware provides registers, signals, bus accesses, interrupts, memory areas, or communication channels. In contrast, the application requires functionally usable information and actions, such as a measured value, a device status, an operating command, or a control release. Such an intermediate layer forms the level at which these two perspectives are merged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An essential component is the HAL connection. A Hardware Abstraction Layer separates the application from concrete hardware details. PICKPLACE works on such projects to integrate existing drivers, board support packages, or low-level hardware functions in such a way that clear interfaces are created. This determines which functions operate synchronously or asynchronously, how errors are returned, what initialization order applies, and what states hardware access can assume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the form of logging systems, middleware can also prepare data. A sensor might supply raw values, timestamps, or status bits. The application needs derived values, limit states, or events from these. The middleware can structure the acquisition, plausibility checking, and forwarding here, provided these tasks do not belong to the actual business logic. The project must clarify which conversion is hardware-related and which evaluation belongs to the application. This demarcation prevents later changes to business rules from deeply impacting hardware-related software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For communication interfaces, middleware often handles protocol encapsulation. A protocol consists of more than just sent and received bytes. It includes framing, states, timeouts, retries, error handling, addressing, and data interpretation. When these details are distributed across many application parts, they create dependencies that are difficult to test. Middleware can bundle the protocol into a contained module and offer a clearer interface to the application. PICKPLACE supports protocol development in this area and in determining which parts can be kept generic and which should remain project-specific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another task is internal data distribution. In HMI systems, gateways, or machine controllers, the same information is often needed in multiple places. An operating status can be displayed, saved, transmitted to a controller, and made available for diagnostic purposes. Middleware can create rules for how data is published, updated, and consumed. This involves not only transport but also lifecycle, timeliness, prioritization, and error cases. A project must clarify whether data is transmitted cyclically, whether events are sufficient, or whether a hybrid model is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware can also provide diagnostic and extension points. When devices in the field are updated or expanded, states must remain traceable. Not all internal information should be accessible through every interface, and not every diagnostic function belongs to the permanent serial behavior of a device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-f980141 stk-block-background stk--has-background-overlay\" data-block-id=\"f980141\"><style>.stk-f980141 {background-image:url(https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/programming-background-with-person-working-with-codes-computer-1200.jpg) !important;border-top-left-radius:var(--stk--preset--border-radius--xx-large, 32px) !important;border-top-right-radius:var(--stk--preset--border-radius--xx-large, 32px) !important;border-bottom-right-radius:var(--stk--preset--border-radius--xx-large, 32px) !important;border-bottom-left-radius:var(--stk--preset--border-radius--xx-large, 32px) !important;overflow:hidden !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-f980141-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-3eb05d6\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"3eb05d6\"><style>.stk-3eb05d6 {border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;}.stk-3eb05d6-container{padding-top:var(--stk--preset--spacing--60, 2.25rem) !important;padding-right:var(--stk--preset--spacing--60, 2.25rem) !important;padding-bottom:var(--stk--preset--spacing--60, 2.25rem) !important;padding-left:var(--stk--preset--spacing--60, 2.25rem) !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-3eb05d6-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-3eb05d6-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-61c3574\" id=\"heading-placeholder\" data-block-id=\"61c3574\"><style>.stk-61c3574 {align-items:center !important;max-width:500px !important;min-width:auto !important;display:flex !important;}<\/style><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\" class=\"stk-highlight\">Embedded Software Development with PICKPLACE <\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-628a190\" data-block-id=\"628a190\"><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\" class=\"stk-highlight\"><strong>Develop robust and reliable real-time systems with PICKPLACE.<\/strong><\/span> <br><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\" class=\"stk-highlight\"><strong>Request a project now and efficiently implement your electronic system.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-f2b9581\" data-block-id=\"f2b9581\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-button-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-027953f\" data-block-id=\"027953f\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/category\/software\/\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">More <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"weitere-fachliche-einordnung\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further professional classification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"typische-ausgangslagen-in-middleware-projekten\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical starting positions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware projects often start with an existing software base that has grown over several development cycles. Functions have been added, communication paths expanded, or hardware variants introduced. This creates direct dependencies between application code, drivers, and protocols. An initial task then is to make these dependencies visible. PICKPLACE analyzes which modules access which data, where hardware details appear in the application, and which interfaces have been implemented multiple times or inconsistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another starting point is the new development of a device or platform. In this case, the middleware is not extracted from existing code, but planned as part of the architecture. Interfaces, responsibilities, and data flows are described early on. Implementation can then proceed incrementally: first basic hardware integration, then communication services, followed by distribution and handover to the application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"technische-abhangigkeiten\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technical dependencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Middleware depends on several layers. The operating system or runtime system determines which tasks, threads, interrupt mechanisms, or memory limits are available. The hardware dictates which interfaces, timings, and resources must be considered. The application defines which data is needed, which latencies are acceptable, and which states must be visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These dependencies directly impact the architecture. Middleware for a small device without an operating system differs from middleware on an embedded Linux system. The question of whether data is processed cyclically, event-driven, or via messages also arises from these framework conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"ubergang-von-analyse-zu-umsetzung\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transition from analysis to implementation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the analysis, interfaces and responsibilities are defined. These include namespaces, data models, error codes, initialization, object lifetimes, and rules for communication between modules. Only then can it be sensibly identified which parts can be newly developed, which can be reused, and which can be adapted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For existing systems, the implementation can be carried out in stages. First, particularly tightly coupled areas are identified. Then, individual hardware accesses, protocol parts, or data paths are transferred into middleware modules. This allows the restructuring to be divided into manageable work packages. For new developments, the middleware can be created in parallel to the application, provided the interfaces are described early enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"beispiele-fur-middleware\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Examples of middleware software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/savannah.nongnu.org\/projects\/lwip\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lwIP<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wolfssl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wolfSSL<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/mosquitto.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eclipse Mosquitto<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GUI Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/lvgl.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LVGL<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trustedfirmware.org\/projects\/mbed-tls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mbed TLS<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/CANopenNode\/CANopenNode\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CANopenNode<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Protocol Stack <a href=\"https:\/\/cyclonedds.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Eclipse Cyclone DDS<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"unsere-leistungen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PICKPLACE supports middleware projects from architecture to the concrete connection of individual interfaces. The focus is on clear responsibilities between hardware, operating system, communication layer, and application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HAL Connection <\/strong>We integrate hardware-related functions via defined interfaces, separating hardware details from application logic. This includes initialization, access patterns, error handling, and coordination with existing drivers or board-specific software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Protocol Development <\/strong>We develop or structure communication protocols and encapsulate their processes in defined modules. This includes message construction, state behavior, timeouts, error paths, and the transfer of data to internal software modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Architecture <\/strong>We develop middleware structures for devices, controls, and networked systems. In doing so, we describe module boundaries, data flows, interfaces, and dependencies, making further development, troubleshooting, and migration to new platforms plannable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the project status, PICKPLACE analyzes existing software, evaluates couplings between modules, designs middleware structures, or implements individual components. For redesigns, the focus is on not unnecessarily changing existing functions but on introducing clear transitions. For new systems, the focus is on an architecture that clearly separates hardware connection, communication, and application from each other.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Middleware describes the software layer between the operating system, hardware, communication interfaces, and applications. PICKPLACE primarily works in middleware projects where devices, controls, or networked systems consist of multiple software modules and require clear transitions between hardware access, data processing, and application logic. Typical project contexts include control units, HMI systems, gateways, machine controls, and long-life device platforms that are maintained, extended, or transferred to new hardware over years.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":1562,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2492","projekt","type-projekt","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt\/2492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/projekt"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt\/2492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2493,"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/projekt\/2492\/revisions\/2493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pickplace.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2492"}],"curies":[{"name":"WP","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}