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Backward and Forward Compatibility for Process Systems (Download)

May 16, 2025
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Process systems often have very long lifecycles. Not that systems aren’t updated from time to time, but unlike other sectors, it isn’t all that rare to find a decades-old system still quietly doing its job. This longevity is driven by a range of things including a focus on the bottom line, the cost of interrupting profitable activities to accommodate upgrades, and the fact that many systems were built to last and be adaptable to the future.

To ensure continued backward and forward compatibility in electronic systems, there are a number of areas on which to focus. For example, at the component level, look for those with standardized interfaces, robust data formats, and versioning strategies, while also conducting thorough testing to verify compatibility across different software and hardware versions.