Smaller faster TriCore code promised from toolset

A new embedded software development toolset is expected to increase execution speed and reduce code size up to 10% over the current Tasking toolset for Infineon's 32bit TriCore architecture.

A new embedded software development toolset expected to increase execution speed and reduce code size up to 10% over the current Tasking TriCore toolset has been developed for Infineon's 32bit TriCore architecture.

Altium has used its proprietary Viper compiler framework technology to produce a next-generation Tasking "VX-toolset" for the TriCore architecture.

Altium's Tasking TriCore VX-toolset excels in performance of generated code, completeness of features and architecture support, and compliance with industry standards.

The toolset is currently in beta testing and full public release is expected in April 2003.

"The Tasking TriCore VX-toolset is another state-of-the-art design tool from Altium that breaks down the barriers to innovation by giving developers easy access to the best possible development tools", says Harm-Andre Verhoef, Altium's product manager for Tasking TriCore products.

"Thanks to our Viper technology, the TriCore VX-toolset compiler is better tailored to the architecture specifics and provides the level of execution speed, code density and stability critical for high-performance automotive, industrial and telematics applications".

"Altium has gone to great lengths to further improve their already outstanding Tasking TriCore tool chain", says Dr Sam Jenkins, compiler and benchmarking expert, Infineon Technologies, Bristol.

"The introduction of this next-generation DSP-C compiler technology demonstrates their clear understanding of the requirements of TriCore developers, their commitment to the TriCore architecture, and underlines Altium's strong relationship with Infineon Technologies".

The new compiler in the VX-toolset has been built using Altium's Viper compiler development framework, which enables Altium engineers to develop sophisticated and mature compilers in a much shorter timeframe than is otherwise possible.

The resulting compiler's extremely powerful optimisation techniques enable generation of highly efficient code that is fast and compact, resulting in the highest execution speed at the smallest code size.

TriCore developers benefit by gaining access to a highly efficient and technically advanced compiler that includes comprehensive and highly optimised support for all features of the TriCore architecture.

To complement the new Viper compiler technology, the associate linker/locator technology has been upgraded to create a new target-independent linker which offers a range of benefits including improved integration with third-party products, a number of new optimisations and significantly enhanced Linker Script Language (LSL) that is more consistent and easier to grasp.

As with previous Tasking TriCore toolsets, the Tasking TriCore VX-toolset offers full TriCore 1 and 2 architecture and derivatives support, MISRA C code checking, and is fully compliant with the most recent TriCore EABI, and ISO C99 industry standards.

It also includes support for FPU, MMU, PCP1 and 2, and extended TriCore device support in the form of ready-prepared configurations and SFR-header files for the latest automotive/industrial microcontrollers, such are the TC1910 and TC1912.

The Tasking TriCore VX-toolset is a complete, integrated embedded software development toolset consisting of the Tasking EDE, C/C++/EC++ compiler, assembler, linker/locator and CrossView Pro OCDS/simulator debugger.

The official product release is expected for PC/Windows, PC/Linux and Sun/Solaris platforms in April 2003 and will be priced at US $5390 for the complete C/C++/EC++ compiler and debugger toolset.

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