a
Another possibility is to find a distributor that offers a device
programming service, or a
third-party programmer. You set up a deal whereby the programming house
holds the code. The mfr
places an order for programmed parts with them at a price that includes your
royalty, which the
programmer then sends to you. I've not heard of anyone doing this but it
seems to be a reasonable
solution - you don't have to program chips - the disti handles everything
under their QA program,
and the mfr is ensured a supply if you're on holiday, fall under a bus etc.



That's a good solution that addresses a significant part of the problem. It
doesn't fix the support issue, as that requires the commented source code.
But, for many embedded systems code support isn't that important once the
original work is done and the design is verified. The primary concern there
is additional copies, on a reliable basis, of the  final design, without
hold-up games. (I've decided not to deliver any more programmed chips unless
the price is increased, etc.  While the purchaser may be able to enforce a
contractual right to the agreed price, the time pressures inherent in
litigation work more against the purchaser, who has product to ship, perhaps
to meet his own contractual requirements.)

Most of the contracts I've help negotiate have had major code support,
updating and customization requirements, so it's hard to get away from
needing a "warm and fuzzy" feeling about your code supplier and his
longevity. That's where the one-man software company is at a significant
disadvantage in the view of many corporate purchasers.

Jack


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