Top migration paths for replacing Windows CE
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ByteSnap Design is revealing the choices engineers are making as they replace or extend legacy Windows Embedded CE systems, as support finally ends.
Windows CE is largely obsolete with the last of the Windows CE range (WEC2013) past its extended support back in October 2023, creating an urgent need for businesses currently relying on these to transition to an alternative. Despite its obsolescence, numerous devices continue to operate on legacy Windows CE systems, and updating to new operating systems requires support from a consultancy that is proficient on both hardware and software choices.
Thanks to its roots in Windows embedded systems design, ByteSnap is well placed to assess existing software and applications and devise an optimal migration strategy between platforms. Over many years, it has empowered developers to make informed decisions tailored to a projects’ specific hardware requirements and here reveals the top migratory paths.
At the top of the list of requests is Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, offering a viable option for those who cannot or do not want to migrate to Linux. ByteSnap has experienced increased interest in support for migrating to Windows IoT recently with the release of Windows 10 and Windows 11 for ARM. This is the full enterprise OS running on processors such as the NXP i.MX 8 and i.MX 9x range. This combination enables developer teams to streamline their migration of Windows applications with minimal changes to the application code.
For instance, the team is currently working on a number of projects utilising Windows 10/11 IoT Enterprise for ARM on the i.MX 93 application processor. Integrating the scalable Arm Cortex-A55 core, the i.MX 93 brings a cost effective, low power but capable processor to the table. Including a Cortex M series microcontroller for real time control gives hails this a great combination for a replacement to the Windows CE legacy devices.
However, the lack of clear direction about how to make the transition makes it a challenge, as Graeme Wintle, Director, ByteSnap Design, explains: “Our customers have called on ByteSnap’s extensive experience in the management of obsolescence and end-of-life issues. Many of the original engineers of the original products are not available to be called on. Little online documentation for Windows CE still exists along with a minefield of information about the Windows 10 IoT products on ARM makes the migration path a tricky one.”
The interest in moving to Embedded Linux is also very strong, with products provided by Microsoft also to support applications written in C# to run on Linux platforms without modifications to them, the .net Core Library for Linux is a very powerful tool. Using familiar development tools such as Visual Studio and allowing cross development between Windows and Linux for testing and development means Windows develops can utilise their skills on Linux platforms.
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