Network development toolkit gains RTOS support

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 24, 2002

Metrowerks has added support for ARC International's Precise/MQX real-time operating system (RTOS) to its CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Networks Edition.

Expanding the options for developers integrating networking technology to embedded devices, Metrowerks has added support for ARC International's Precise/MQX real-time operating system (RTOS) to its CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Networks Edition.

By adding support for Precise/MQX, Metrowerks is providing its customers with a compact and efficient RTOS and communications protocol stacks, both of which are designed specifically for the embedded marketplace.

In addition, Metrowerks' support for Precise/MQX brings ARC's set of rapid application development (RAD) tools that enable embedded developers to quickly develop embedded applications with networking connectivity in mind.

CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Networks Edition, is designed for developers creating embedded software for Internet-enabled devices, such as security systems, vending machines, information kiosks, and Internet appliances.

Many of these developers are not experienced in the implementation of today's network protocols, especially TCP/IP.

Developing these protocols from scratch, and testing them, can take up valuable time.

Additionally, the test environment for network protocols is not readily available to the typical embedded developer.

Developers also face the challenge of obtaining all the necessary hardware, software, and development tools from multiple providers and ensuring that they are all compatible and interoperate properly.

CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Network Edition, eliminates the need for piece-parts solutions by combining fully tested and integrated components.

In one easy-to-install-and-use package, the CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Network Edition, product provides a hardware reference platform that includes the networking hardware components, a compact and highly scalable RTOS, the necessary networking protocols packaged and tested in an easy to integrate library, and the tools required to help quickly and easily develop a network enabled application.

"Our software integrates extremely well with Metrowerks' CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment", said Mike Gulett, president and CEO of ARC International.

"The products work together seamlessly, and effectively appears as one to the user.

The result is a development process that is smooth from start to finish".

CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Network Edition is available for Motorola ColdFire processors and for Motorola microprocessors compatible with the PowerPC instruction set architecture.

Each system includes CodeWarrior embedded development tools, an evaluation board (Motorola's MCF5272C3, or Embedded Planet's MPC850 or MPC860), a choice of RTOS (including ARC's Precise/MQX), and a working, Internet-enabled sample application.

Metrowerks also provides the option of purchasing either an evaluation edition or a fully licensed edition.

This comprehensive package enables developers to quickly evaluate the hardware and software and begin developing their application immediately, all at an attractive entry price point.

"The embedded network development systems provides embedded systems developers with a complete platform for developing networked systems", said John Smolucha, vice president of marketing, Metrowerks.

"The silicon board, OS, and development tools are all integrated to cut weeks out of the development phase of a project".

CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Network Edition is available today.

Suggested retail pricing ranges from US $595 to US $995 for an evaluation edition, and from US $35,000 to US $50,000 for a fully licensed edition.