Mapusoft (Mobile, Ala.), which focuses on helping companies reuse existing software when switching to new real-time operating systems, said large aerospace contractors are particularly pressed because of the demanding Defense Department software certification process.

Raj Johnson, Mapusoft's president and CEO, said military contractors visiting the company at the Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley here this week are searching for tools that will help them port embedded applications while meeting strict DOD certification.

Mapusoft focuses on developing the software abstractions needed to reliably port embedded applications to a new RTOS. Johnson said this has become a growing problem for large military integrators like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.