Tools for Embedded Developers

GNU software distribution

GNU X-tools, which is packaged on a CD-ROM, is a set of software development tool suites for 21 microprocessors. The software is operating system-independent and features an integrated development environment and C/C++ compiler and assembler. It's available now, starting at $129.

Microcross
Warner Robbins, GA
(478) 953-1907
www.microcross.com

VxWorks to Linux transition

MontaVista is offering a set of tools intended to streamline the process of porting legacy VxWorks code to a Linux platform. The toolkit presents applications with a VxWorks "virtual machine" that implements key system calls and behaviors of the VxWorks kernel on a standard Linux platform. According to the company, code that utilizes VxWorks APIs will sometimes run unmodified except for changes to the header files. The VxWorks to Linux toolkit is free and available now.

MontaVista Software
Sunnyvale, CA
(408) 328-9200
www.mvista.com

High-availability middleware

UpSuite is software designed for voice over IP (VoIP) application developers that provides an environment in which to turn VoIP applications into Central Office products. The core technology of UpSuite implements IP disk mirroring at wireline speeds. Information created on an active processor is written to a local disk and simultaneously across a TCP/IP network to a standby processor and its local disk. IP disk writes can be implemented at speeds from 10MBps to as fast as 200MBps, depending on topology, while failover can be tuned to 500ms or less. UpSuite comprises five modules that handle all of the low-level systems calls for low-level IP I/O devices. The software modules include UpDisk, a kernel-level virtual file system that provides IP disk mirroring; UpRules, which is a state table for maintaining raised and error conditions for system maintenance and application-specific events; UpAgent, a simple network management protocol aggregator with a GUI; and UpState, a library and API that allows applications to checkpoint memory-based data to a backup processor. UpSuite runs on SPARC and Solaris. It's available now starting at $5,000.

Continuous Computing
San Diego, CA
(858) 882-8800
www.ccpu.com

Communications library

SKYscl is a communications library that allows developers of large multiprocessor systems to build their applications using a virtual configuration that describes data synchronization and data movement across processor nodes. It includes a standard set of function calls that automatically selects the most efficient communication method based on the user-defined physical configuration. The user defines the virtual system, which models data flow, and the physical system, which allocates the processors to the executables within the physical configuration. Because the configuration files don't affect the executables, only the configuration needs to be changed when the user needs to expand or contract the systems. The application software remains intact.

SKY Computers
Chelmsford, MA
(978) 250-1920
www.skycomputers.com

Microcontroller simulator

The Time Processor Unit (TPU) Standard Mask Simulator allows engineers to simulate Motorola's standard-mask TPU microcode and develop their host-CPU side drivers. It's designed for developing CPU code that interfaces to the TPU. The following configurations are supported: 683xxTPU Standard Mask A Simulator (one TPU1, one CPU32), Standard Mask G Simulator (one TPU1, one CPU32), MPC555 TPU Standard Mask Simulator (two TPU3s, one CPU32), and MPC565 (three TPU3s, one CPU32). It's available now for $495.

Ash Ware
Portland, OR
(503) 533-0271
www.ashware.com

IDE for StarCore processor

The MULTI 2000 integrated development environment now supports the MSC8101 digital signal processor. MULTI 2000 features a C/C++ compiler and provides a DSP-targeting superset of editing, debugging, profiling, and project management capabilities. The MSC8101 is a network-ready DSP. It combines a StarCore SC140 with Motorola's communications processor module. The MSC8101 targets communications applications requiring large amounts of on-chip memory and integrated networking capability. These include third generation wireless infrastructure systems, IP telephony systems, multi-channel modem banks, and multi-channel xDSL systems. It features an integrated 32-bit, 150MHz communication processor module, 512KB of on-chip SRAM, a 100MHz 32- or 64-bit PowerPC bus interface, a 300MHz enhanced filter coprocessor, and an integrated DMA controller. The MULTI 2000 IDE automates software development for the MSC8101. The MSC8101 features a window-oriented editor, RTOS-aware source-level debugger, DSP data visualization, graphical program builder, run-time error checker, version control system, and performance profiler. MULTI also features an instruction set simulator that allows programmers to develop and test MSC8101 code on a PC or workstation without target hardware. MULTI 2000 is available now starting at $5,900.

Green Hills Software
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 965-6044
www.ghs.com

Development software

Quartus II development software provides an environment for system-on-a-programmable chip design with support for Excalibur embedded processors, system-level design features, and an integrated power analysis tool. It features router algorithms that prioritize PLD routing resources for criticical timing paths based on requirements defined by the designer. The software also includes SoftMode C/C++ compilers and debuggers. Another feature of the Quartus II software is the PowerGauge analysis tool, which uses the designer's simulation files to link the power consumption estimate with customer-specific design files and operating parameters. The software's incremental design framework enables teams of engineers to develop a block of custom logic or add a block of pre-verified intellectual property to a design, make pin and timing assignments to that block, verify functionality and performance, and then lock the placement of the block. All timing optimization is done on the individual block level. The Quartus II software is available now.

Altera
San Jose, CA 
(408) 544-7000
www.altera.com

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