Tools exploit both sides of dual processor

Metrowerks is delivering an advanced version of its CodeWarrior development tools designed to exploit the advanced capabilities of the Motorola 56800E, both as a DSP and as a microcontroller.

Metrowerks is delivering an advanced version of its CodeWarrior development tools designed to exploit the advanced capabilities of the Motorola 56800E, both as a DSP and as a microcontroller, thereby helping developers build and deploy even the most sophisticated systems quickly and easily.

CodeWarrior Development Studio for DSP56800E, Version 2.0, is designed for application development targeting a variety of vertical markets including motor control, telephony, industrial control, Internet radio and wireless messaging.

This software development environment seamlessly integrates the project manager, build system, editor, compiler, linker and debugger.

Also included in this version is an instruction set simulator that allows developers to start writing code prior to hardware availability.

Additionally, the product is designed to support Motorola's DSP56838, DSP56852, DSP56858 and all subsequent evaluation modules (EVMs).

"Metrowerks' tightly integrated development environment and optimising compiler provide a key advantage for developers designing applications built around the Motorola DSP56800E architecture", said Greg Coonley, president of DSP OS, "The combination of Metrowerks tools and Motorola processors provides developers with the strong foundation needed to create embedded applications quickly and easily".

Metrowerks is also delivering CodeWarrior Analysis Tools (CATS) for Motorola's DSP56800E, Version 1.0.

This new add-on product is designed to help developers quickly analyse and increase the performance of their code.

CATS for DSP56800E includes a hierarchical profiler designed for higher granularity when profiling to pinpoint performance bottlenecks, plus a visual code coverage tool designed to measure, analyse and help improve the overall quality of the code.

All analysis results are displayed in an easy-to-read graphical format represented by charts, lists and code trees so that developers can quickly determine what is hindering code performance.

Metrowerks' CATS tools have been very successful in helping games developers optimise the performance of their code.

Games, like embedded systems, have strict performance requirements.

The use of the CATS tools has enabled games developers to analyse their code in detail, thereby promoting code execution with greater speed and efficiency.

"Recognising that DSP developers have requirements to get to market quickly, we provide a simulator that allows developers to use our CodeWarrior tools to evaluate the hardware even prior to purchasing it", said John Smolucha, vice president of marketing, Metrowerks.

"Additionally, for DSP developers who need to quickly resolve issues with their code, our CATS product enables them to monitor and control the performance of specific pieces of code - something they're not able to do with a basic debugger".

The ability to interact with a running target is a critical requirement for DSP application development.

To observe and understand application behaviour under real-world conditions, developers need a new generation of host-target interface technology.

CodeWarrior Host-Target Interface (HTI), available with CodeWarrior Development Studio for DSP56800E, Version 2.0, provides a high-performance, Ethernet-based solution optimised for the DSP56800E architecture.

The HTI enables data transfer between the host computer and the on-chip emulation module of a 56800E processor with minimal intrusion, eliminating the slow download times and run control problems commonly associated with JTAG-based, run-control connections.

Using CodeWarrior HTI, developers can dramatically shorten the edit/compile/download and debug cycles associated with creating complex DSP software.

CodeWarrior Development Studio for DSP56800E, Version 2.0, and CodeWarrior Code Analysis Tools for Motorola DSP56800E, Version 1.0, are expected to be available in early November direct from Metrowerks and from Metrowerks' authorised distributors.

The suggested retail prices are US $1795 per license for CodeWarrior Development Studio for DSP56800E, and $700 for CodeWarrior Code Analysis Tools for DSP56800E.

The CodeWarrior Host Target Interface is available for a suggested retail price of $2750, and the Standard Embedded Support Package is available for $360.

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