drivercentric

Driver-centric is an adjective used in computing and related fields to describe design, architecture, or policy that treats device drivers as the primary mediators of hardware access. In a driver-centric approach, the driver layer defines the interfaces, abstraction, and lifecycle for hardware support, with higher-level software building on top of the driver API rather than directly interacting with hardware.

In operating systems and software architecture, a driver-centric model centers hardware access in device drivers, often within the kernel or a dedicated driver framework. This can simplify adding new devices and isolating hardware-specific logic, as drivers implement standardized interfaces that other software modules rely on. However, it can also shift risk toward driver quality and security, create dependency on driver availability for device functionality, and lead to kernel or system-level complexity if drivers are numerous or poorly maintained.

In embedded and automotive contexts, a driver-centric approach uses modular hardware drivers for sensors, actuators, and other peripherals. This supports reusability, easier certification, and clear hardware abstraction, but may constrain higher-level software from optimizing for specific hardware paths or requiring careful coordination between drivers and application logic.

Related concepts include hardware abstraction layers, device models, and driver frameworks in various platforms (such as Linux device model or Windows Driver Frameworks). The term is often discussed in contrast to application-centric or policy-driven designs, where higher-level software takes a more active role in hardware orchestration.