Tuning tools speed DSP software optimisation

The Code Composer Studio Tuning Edition IDE delivers a new way for programmers to reduce system cost and improve the development timeline for high performance embedded systems applications.

The Code Composer Studio Tuning Edition integrated development environment delivers a new way for programmers to reduce system cost and improve the development timeline for high performance embedded systems applications.

CCStudio Tuning Edition accelerates the development process by providing an integrated collection of seven tools that make it easier and faster for digital signal processing (DSP) programmers to optimise code for speed and size.

CCStudio Tuning Edition's tools proactively review program code, track potential areas for improvement and offer suggestions to help programmers optimise system performance and memory usage.

These powerful yet easy-to-use features speed development time and help programmers unleash the full potential of TI's TMS320C6000T DSP platform devices.

"By fully utilising CCStudio Tuning Edition's tools and features, programmers can significantly reduce application development time", said Mike Trujillo, eXpressDSP Product Marketing Manager, TI.

"Using the highly optimised code generated by CCStudio Tuning Edition, engineers can maximise the full capabilities of a high performance DSP, or in other cases, fit their application into a less expensive device".

CCStudio Tuning Edition's centrepiece is its dashboard, a user-friendly configurable display that reduces the learning curve typical of detailed code optimisation tools, while enabling deep visibility into the ways in which a program is meeting key user goals.

The dashboard is made up of four windows - the advice window, the goals window, the profile setup and the profile viewer.

The advice window is an intuitive user interface that offers the programmer proactive advice to assist with assessing and solving code optimisation tasks.

Using the goals window, the programmer sets and tracks development goals toward cycle count and code size.

The profile setup window is an easy-to-use tool for initialising profile data for optimisation.

And the profile viewer window displays easy links for optimisation, as well as performance metrics including cycle count, pipeline stalls and cache misses.

The dashboard operates in unison with Tuning Edition's three core tools - Compiler Consultant, CodeSizeTune and CacheTune.

These tools all act as engines to power the selected optimisation tasks with speed and targeted efficiency.

Acting as a "virtual expert", Compiler Consultant provides specific advice to improve the programmer's entered code, such as modifying loops or indicating which information to pass to the compiler to aid in optimisation.

In just a matter of minutes, CodeSizeTune evaluates every possible set of compiler options for individual code functions, and then generates a two-dimensional graph of the composite cycle count against code size.

And CacheTune enables programmers to target the place and time in which their application is performing suboptimally due to cache issues.

Building on Code Composer Studio's programmer-focused collection of tools and features, CCStudio Tuning Edition integrates everything programmers need for application development from start to finish including reference frameworks, project manager, code generation tools, built-in editor, simulators, DSP/BIOS, debug and analysis tools, drivers and software libraries.

CCStudio Tuning Edition is available today for $3595, which includes 15 months of update subscription service.

For current C6000 Code Composer Studio subscribers, CCStudio Tuning Edition is available at no additional charge under their active subscription.

A free 90-day evaluation version is available on CD-ROM or for download from the TI website.

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