Profiler adds visibility to real-time debug: News from Quadros Systems

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Quadros Systems has added execution profiling to its kernel awareness module for the Metrowerks CodeWarrior debugger. This advanced analysis tool displays data about system performance collected by instrumentation within the RTOS, enabling developers to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks in their applications. To maximise the capabilities of real-time systems, developers need to evaluate system priorities by viewing the order and relative performance of each real-time task, thread and interrupt service routine (ISR).

With the release of this new Quadros Execution Profiler, Quadros makes it possible for development engineers to see performance data for tasks, threads, ISRs, and the kernel as well as to monitor overall system loading.

Developers now have access to run times (with interrupt time excluded), pre-emption times and scheduling latency.

With this data, designers can evaluate task and thread priority assignments and make informed judgments about system schedulability and survivability.

"Many embedded systems developers today are flying blind when it comes to measurable knowledge about whether their system is operating as they intend", said Tom Barrett, President of Quadros Systems.

"Execution profiling for RTXC Quadros provides a new level of insight into system performance and, consequently, a new level of control over efficiency and schedulability".

The Quadros Execution Profiler delivers two kinds of profiling functionality - entity profiling gives data on both run times and preemption times for use in measuring system loading and schedulability.

Scheduling latency profiles reveal valuable information about real-time deadlines and an execution entity's proper place in the priority hierarchy.

Collection of profiling data requires no external hardware as the data is gathered from within the RTXC Quadros kernel by configurable instrumentation code.

However, the Quadros Execution Profiler requires no modification of application code.

Execution profiling and kernel awareness for RTXC Quadros RTOS is immediately available for the Metrowerks CodeWarrior Debugger.

Quadros will extend this capability to other debuggers in the near future.

Execution profiling and kernel awareness are included at no extra charge with the license of the RTXC Quadros RTOS for supported debuggers.

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