Intel's new tools extract best XScale performance

New IDE includes C/C++ compiler, debugger, simulator

Direct Insight is now accepting orders for Intel's new C++ Software Development Tool Suite, which promises to give XScale users superior code performance, and powerful new debugging options.

At the heart of the new tools, which are aimed initially at users of PXA255, and other PCA architectures, is a new compiler technology which directly targets the XScale microarchitecture. The XScale's instruction set is an extension of ARM5TE, to which Intel has added additional elements including powerful Multiply-and-Accumulate instructions. Highly optimized floating-point libraries make use of these instructions, and at the same time inter-procedure optimization creates code which makes best use of the XScale's pipeline architecture.

The integrated XDB debugger features OS-awareness for Palm, Symbian and Nucleus, and includes a simulator, ROM monitor, and a powerful JTAG debugger which makes use of Intel's on-chip trace extensions, and allows rapid Flash programming.

The new tool suite also offers developers seamless forward compatibility with Intel's next generation XScale PCA devices which have been previewed under the code name Bulverde, and are set for release later this year. These devices will feature a further extension to the instruction set known as Wireless MMX, which allow for the development of highly optimized multimedia applications. These new instructions are comprehensively supported in both generated code and the libraries.

A detailed datasheet can be found in our downloads section.

For further information, please call our team on 01295 768800.