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Integrated
development environment for
microprocessor-based ICs helps
semiconductor makers create
more attractive products
 •
simple-retrofit user interface
enhances tool-chain productivity
and adds a uniform brand feel
that can dramatically enhance
marketing potential
Today,
Cambridge Consultants launches
xIDE - a generic Integrated
Development Environment (IDE)
that can be customized for embedded
system and semiconductor companies
to create software development
kits for ASSP, structured ASIC,
platform or SoC products. xIDE
reduces time to market, risk
and software costs for companies
requiring application-specific
development tools, both for
their own use and for delivery
to customers.
Both
UNIX/Linux and Windows versions
of xIDE are available now, and
custom plug-ins can be created
for any embedded processor,
IP core, interface or complete
product. The customized xIDE
can be OEM-branded by the semiconductor
company, enabling in-house developers
to ship attractive and highly
functional tools in short timescales.
Most modern semiconductor products
are programmable or configurable,
and the increased use of embedded
microprocessors in platform
devices, system-on-chip and
structured ASICs makes the availability
of a software development environment
de-rigeur. For example, when
the device is an ASSP (application
specific standard product) -
being sold perhaps by a fabless
semiconductor company to equipment
manufacturers - developing a
software development and debug
environment is an expensive
and lengthy process. The alternative
of referring customers to third-party
tool vendors is often unacceptable.
Toolkits built from re-usable
xIDE technology will produce
fully-functional development
environments that accelerate
semiconductor product sales
and are branded with the semiconductor
company’s identity, to
create a common look and feel
for a product range, effectively
advertising on the developer’s
computer.
Typical
xIDE configurations consist
of a graphical user interface
and a core development and debugging
toolset, together with customized
plug-ins for the software tool-chain
of the target microprocessor,
peripherals and, if necessary,
third-party compilers. A complete
system that allows developers
to write, build and debug their
embedded software within a homogeneous
software project management
environment can be created within
a few weeks.
This
new software tool and customization
service has its roots in Cambridge
Consultants’ ASIC design
and silicon intellectual property
business, where it is already
proven and in use by clients.
For example one of the world’s
most successful wireless chip
companies uses xIDE internally
and ships it to external developers
and customers. System developers
can employ standard interfaces
such as JTAG and SPI and they
can also use Cambridge Consultants’
SIF pods, hardware emulator,
non-intrusive in-circuit debugger
and Flash memory programming
tools. Engineers and programmers
using xIDE are presented with
a seamless and consistent view
of development from simulation
and hardware emulation through
to first silicon and deployment
on target hardware.
"Software
development kits are frequently
just as complex to create as
the underlying hardware, and
substantially increase the risk
and timescales of semiconductor
development projects,"
says Alistair Morfey, Head of
Cambridge Consultants’
ASICs Group. "As a result
development tools often lag
the introduction of hardware,
and are less than ideal in the
way they operate. By using xIDE,
developers can start programming
work on the processor simulator
straight away and later, when
the hardware is ready, they
use xIDE to download code, typically
to Flash memory. Our xIDE technology
can provide complex multi-processor
chips and systems with a modern
cross-platform software development
environment, which delivers
a consistent interface to users
- regardless of whether the
underlying processors are developed
in-house or sourced from third
parties."
Cambridge
Consultants’ xIDE runs
natively on Windows, Linux,
UNIX or Mac OSX. Its feature
set can be customized for individual
companies, and it can include
an on-line help system, a multiple
document text editor with syntax
highlighting, a built-in scripting
language (Python) to automate
repetitive tasks, and sophisticated
support for managing embedded
software development projects.
It delivers these features using
either a familiar industry-standard
look-and-feel, or a branding
concept unique to the embedded
systems or semiconductor company.
Cambridge
Consultants also offers leading-edge
IC design services, project
management and silicon IP, including
the XAP family of RISC microprocessors,
the APE DSP and analog and wireless
cores. These cores are silicon-proven
in high-volume standard IC products,
as well as in ASICs that the
firm designs for clients. The
XAP tool chains are fully integrated
within the modular xIDE environment,
providing users with an example
implementation for evaluation.
Evaluation copies can be downloaded
free from http://www.CambridgeConsultants.com/ASIC
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