Toolset generates compact code for low-power DSP

After successful beta field-testing and widespread customer acceptance, the first Tasking StarCore toolset, v1.1, is now released and available for sale.

After successful beta field-testing and widespread customer acceptance, the first Tasking StarCore toolset, v1.1 is now released and available for sale.

Tasking is Altium's industry-leading brand of tools for embedded software development, and the StarCore software development toolset represents an important addition to the Tasking product lineup.

"With its ultra low power consumption and compact code density, the StarCore DSP architecture promises to become a major force in the demanding field of high-speed communication applications", says Stephan Paternotte, Altium's Product Manager for Tasking's StarCore products.

"This toolset perfectly meets the demands of developing high-end DSP applications in areas such as wireless communications, 3G mobile phones, networking infrastructure, DSL/cable modems and automotive by making full use of the StarCore architecture's inherent advantages".

The StarCore DSP's superior performance in power efficiency is well complemented by Altium's specifically designed Tasking StarCore compiler.

Compatible with ISO C '99, as well as the StarCore ABI, the Tasking StarCore compiler's extremely powerful optimisation techniques enable generation of highly efficient code that is fast as well as compact, resulting in the highest execution speed at the smallest code size.

The TASKING StarCore compiler has been built using Altium's new Viper compiler development framework, and is the first Tasking product to use this next-generation compiler technology.

The Viper framework enables Altium engineers to develop sophisticated and mature compilers in a much shorter timeframe than is otherwise possible.

StarCore developers benefit by gaining access to a technically advanced compiler that includes comprehensive and highly-optimised support for all features of the StarCore DSP architecture much earlier in the architecture's life.

This enables them to get high-quality applications to market faster "With the release of our first embedded software development toolset for the StarCore DSP architecture, we bring the power of Tasking's embedded development environment and Viper technology to StarCore developers", says Paternotte.

"Developers can now maximise the benefits of this advanced compiler technology - optimised for the StarCore architecture - in their mission-critical DSP applications where footprint size, execution speed, reliability and longevity are crucial".

The superior results and maturity of Altium's Tasking StarCore software development toolset have also been recognised by StarCore developers, following an extensive period of beta field-testing.

"We are very pleased with the positive response that the StarCore toolset received from the developers", says Paternotte.

"The two areas most praised include the stability of the tools, and the quality of generated code - both in terms of code size and execution speed".

The Tasking StarCore toolset is another state-of-the-art design tool from Altium that breaks down the barriers to innovation and allows developers to take full advantage of the complete range of StarCore DSP architecture steps and derivatives.

The Tasking StarCore Software Development Toolset is a complete, integrated toolset consisting of the Tasking EDE, C/C++ compiler, assembler, linker/locator and CrossView Pro EonCE simulator/debugger.

Altium's Tasking StarCore Software Development Toolset v1.1 is available for PC/Windows and Sun/Solaris platforms and is priced from US $5390 for the complete C/C++/EC++/ debugger toolset.

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