Abstract: A system includes a platform on which a plurality of platform-specific I/O and fault-tolerance mechanisms are implemented. The system also includes an embedded software application operating on the platform and middleware which acts as a buffer between the application and the platform. In operation, the middleware logically separates the embedded software application from the platform-specific I/O and fault-tolerance mechanisms, such that the application can be transferred from one platform to another without necessitating complex and time-consuming code changes.