Innovation by Design

News Release from: Computer Solutions
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 8 October 2004

Budget C compilers speed embedded micro design

Three new low-cost C compilers for embedded micros from Hi-Tech allow high-quality code to be generated in a fraction of the time required for handwritten assembler code.

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Now available in the UK from Computer Solutions are three new low-cost C compilers for embedded micros from Hi-Tech, which allow high-quality code to be generated in a fraction of the time required for handwritten assembler code. The compilers, for the Texas Instruments MSP430, the Microchip dsPIC and the ARM architecture, include a powerful development environment known as Hi-Tide, which features project management and editing capabilities to provide a fully featured front end. Hi-Tide also provides the debugging environment either via JTAG linkage or via chip simulation, supporting chips such as the PIC18 and providing simulated peripherals such as switches, LEDs and LCDs.

Hi-Tide includes a code wizard known as C-Wiz, which can cut development time significantly.

C-Wiz generates the C code needed to initialise the microcontroller, its internal peripherals and its interrupts based on selections made by the user.

The code is updated in real time as the options are changed, so the user can see the code evolve with each setting.

Generated code can then be saved to file and included as part of a Hi-Tide project.

The compiler for the MSP430 includes both Windows development capabilities and interactive debugging facilities via the JTAG development hardware supplied in the TI development kit.

The industrial-strength ANSI C compiler includes support for 32bit IEEE standard floating-point and 32bit long data types.

It makes use of specific MSP430 features and, using an intelligent optimiser, can generate high-quality code easily and quickly.

The compiler for the ARM architecture implements full ISO/ANSI C, allowing code portability, and programs may contain any mix of ARM or Thumb functions.

This package includes a USB based JTAG interface to simplify hardware debugging.

Prices for the C compilers are GBP 610 for the MSP430 version and GBP 730 for the dsPIC.

The ARM package of compiler and USB/JTAG debugger costs GBP 1550 (all prices excluding VAT).

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