XMOS has released a new development suite that enables users to maximise on the capabilities of the company’s flagship xCORE multicore architecture.
An annual subscription, multi-site license also provides an upgrade path that integrates an ARM compiler and debugger development flow to support the new multicore xCORE-XA products which add an ARM Cortex M3 processor to the architecture.
The new xTIMEcomposer-Enterprise tool suite enables developers to develop in a C or C++ development language and also to include simple extensions that describe parallel tasks. It allows fully tested – xSOFTip industry standard compliant – peripherals and reference solutions to be easily included as part of the design, and supports modular code and overlays for in-field configuration of the company’s microcontroller programmable system on chip solutions.
The debug environment includes a new xTAG-PRO multifunction debugger. This allows full multicore debug and analysis with accurate real-time trace and fast instrumentation of the target hardware board or system. I/O signals and internal xCORE signals can be accurately monitored in real-time while the target system is running, with both digital and analogue signals available for view in the xSCOPE instrumentation tool. Real-time power analysis of the target system is also supported, allowing developers to optimise their code for the most energy efficient operation.
The tool suite provides the ability to define very accurate task and I/O timings, giving developers all of the capabilities of an RTOS (real time operating system) but with nanosecond timing accuracy and instant I/O response. High priority real-time tasks can run to completion without interruption on separate logical processor cores. A Timing Analyser (XTA) tool, included as part of the platform, allows all timing characteristics to be statically analysed and timing critical parameters to be defined and maintained through subsequent compiles and code additions.As a result software code can meet hardware levels of performance and provide complete functional safety.
The tool suite is backed up by integrated online support that to ensure an industrial grade level of response to issues and support enquiries as well as providing on-going, long-term support for customer code releases that are shipping in the field.
XMOS
