- Each microcontroller node contains the application code

- Each node is controlled and monitored by a platform-dependant GUI

The development of a platform-dependent GUI represents a major investment in time and money

• Revision Control of software and processes is challenging due to multiple points of software management
• Due to a lack of GUI standards, training is often required to use the application effectively
• OS conflicts can and do occur - "the system / network is down"
• Interoperability of the platform-dependent GUI with the embedded system is critical. Often changes in one of the systems' code will require unforeseen modification to the other.