Tasking - TriCore® VX Software Development Tools v3

The TriCore architecture from Infineon® Technologies is a revolutionary single-core 32-bit microcontroller/DSP design, optimized to offer the best of three worlds: real-time capabilities of a high-speed microcontroller, computational prowess of a DSP and the performance/price ratio of RISC load/store architecture.

Built upon the strong co-operation with Infineon®, the TASKING TriCore Software Development Toolset is commonly regarded as the defacto industry standard for TriCore architecture software developments. The toolset consists of C and C++ compilers, unique PCP C compiler, TriCore and PCP assemblers, linker/locator and multi-core ready debugger, all integrated into the popular Eclipse™ platform based Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

New in TriCore VX-toolset release v3.2/v3.1

• Derivative support for Audo Future devices TC1167, TC1197 and TC1736, including simulator support
• TC1767 and TC1797 TriBoards and TC1736 EasyKit supported with OCDS debugger
• TriCore C compiler and PCP C compiler run-time improvement on Windows XP
• Further code generation improvements in both speed and size
• New make utility with support for parallel builds on multi-core systems, for faster compilations
• Update of Eclipse IDE to Ganymede release and CDT 5.0
• Support for new CPU functional problems

• Support for derivatives based on next generation TriCore architecture level
• General code generation improvements
• Introduction of Code Compaction optimization for upto 5-10% more compact code on next generation TriCore derivatives (Premium Edition feature)
• Integrated Static Code Analysis for checking C source against the CERT C Secure coding standard (Premium Edition feature)
• Significantly improved map file viewer enabling easy analysis of project build
• Support for Infineon's new miniWiggler with DAP interface
• Update of Eclipse IDE to Galileo release and CDT 6.0
• Support for new CPU functional problems

A detailed overview of all changes in the latest revision is provided in the Release Note. The product brochure gives a comprehensive overview of all features and functionalities.

• New debugger technology, fully integrated into the Eclipse IDE, ready for the latest industry debugging trends like multi-core application development
• TriCore C compiler enhancements
  • Code profiling support in the compiler for collecting application statistics, helping to indentify areas that could benefit from efficiency improvements
  • Run-time error checking, helping to detect errors during program execution
  • Code optimization improvements
• Significantly enhanced C compiler for the Peripheral Control Processor (PCP)
• New make utility with support for parallel builds on multi-core systems, for faster compilations
• Eclipse IDE integration of C compiler
• Linker Script Language editor in Eclipse IDE
• Flash memory programming support
• TriCore C compiler and C compiler run-time improvement on Windows XP
• Debugger support for the new Infineon (USB to JTAG) miniWiggler and two new Hitex evaluation boards
• Derivative support for Audo Future devices TC1167, TC1197 and TC1736, including simulator support
• TC1767 and TC1797 TriBoards and TC1736 EasyKit supported with OCDS debugger
• Functionally similar to VX-toolset for C166 now, allowing for easier migration between C166 and TriCore

In addition to the new toolset release v3.x Altium still provides many previous versions, such as v2.5r2, as well as v2.2r3, which is appointed by AUTOSAR as the default compiler for 32-bit reference designs. Versions prior to v3.0 are delivered with EDE and the CrossView Pro debugger. A detailed description of v2.x toolset is available in a datasheet.

IDE and C/C++ optimizing compilers

• Integrated Development Environment based on Eclipse, enabling extensibility though plug-ins from third parties (e.g. for RTOS configuration or debugging)
• Includes C, C++/EC++ compilers with integrated MISRA C enhanced code checking
  • C and C++/EC++ compiler for TriCore
  • C compiler for Peripheral Control Processor (PCP)
• Conformant to many industry standards:
  • ISO/IEC 9899:1999(E), as well as ANSI-C X3.159-1989; C++ compatible with ISO/IEC 14882:1998(E)
  • MISRA C guidelines supported: MISRA-C:1998 and MISRA-C:2004
  • Infineon's TriCore EABI
  • ANSI/IEEE-754 floating point support
  • ELF/DWARF support for tool interoperability
• C/C++ libraries, run-time libraries, floating-point libraries provided in source code
• Project set up wizard to help you to configure a new project
• Conversion utility for project migration from EDE (toolset release v2.x) to Eclipse IDE (release v3.0+)
• Specific support for available TriCore devices
• TriCore and PCP CPU functional problem support:
  • Code bypasses generated by the compiler
  • Code checks by the assembler
  • Protected libraries, tuned per TriCore derivative

Assemblers, linker/locator

• TriCore main core assembler
  • TriCore 1 / TriCore 2 Architecture step support
  • FPU and MMU support
• PCP (Peripheral Control Processor) assembler
  • PCP 1 / PCP 2 Architecture step support
• Versatile linker/locator script language, with dedicated editor in Eclipse IDE
• Powerful data/code overlaying facilities
• Data/code section allocation
• Automatic and user specified allocation in target memory

Integrated Debugger

• Debugging in C++, C and assembly through a simulator or On-Chip (OCDS) debugger
• Seamless integration of the debugger into the Eclipse IDE
• Simulator debugger supports the TriCore and the PCP and is included with all product bundles
• Wizard to help you configure your project to run on an evaluation board
• On-Chip debugging is supported through a USB-JTAG adapter or a simple parallel cable for Infineon evaluation boards. The USB-JTAG adapter is often provided with selected Infineon starter kits, but also available from Altium
• For OCDS the TASKING debugger makes use of Infineon's Device Access Server (DAS), which is provided with the toolset
• DAS allows remote debugging over a TCP/IP network
• Integrated support for programming flash memory
• OSEK kernel-aware debugging, ORTI 2.0 and 2.1 based

Supported TriCore devices

Note: Legacy TriCore microcontrollers are supported by the TASKING TriCore toolset v2.5r2 or earlier.

The TASKING toolset generally supports new TriCore derivatives well ahead of their introduction to the market. Contact our sales or support engineers for specific derivative support information.

Third-party tools supporting the TASKING TriCore C compiler

• RTOS:
  Arcticus Systems, Elektrobit, Embedded Office, ENEA Embedded Technology, Euros Embedded Systems, ETAS, Vector Informatik
• In-Circuit Emulator / JTAG Interface / debugger solutions:
  Ashling Microsystems, Hitex Development Tools, iSYSTEM, Lauterbach Datentechnik, pls, Signum Systems
• Evaluation boards:
  Infineon Technologies, Hitex Development Tools, Isle, Phytec, TQ-Components
• Communication protocols:
  DECOMSYS, Euros Embedded Systems, port GmbH, Vector Informatik
• Software design and test tools:
  Absint, dSPACE, Infineon (DAvE), The MathWorks, RistanCASE, Razorcat, Telelogic, Visu-IT!
• Consultancy and/or training:
  Geensys, MicroConsult
• AUTOSAR:
  ETAS, Geensys
• Other:
  Smart Electronic Development, VaST, Vector Software

Read more about the TASKING TriCore compiler solutions
Recommended reading

• Detailed VX-toolset for TriCore Datasheet, Technical support, Application Notes, Tips & Tricks, TriCore VX-toolset manuals and FAQs

Press releases related to the TriCore C compiler

• Mar 2009: Altium introduces TASKING TriCore VX-toolset v3.2
• Jan 2007: EEMBC Announces Benchmark Scores for Infineon's TriCore®-Based TC1796 Automotive Microcontroller
• Feb 2005: Altium offers TASKING TriCore VX-toolset v2.2 supporting Infineon Technologies
• Feb 2004: Altium announces support for Infineon’s new TC1130 microcontroller
• May 2003: New TASKING toolset from Altium uses Viper compiler Core technology to increase code efficiency for TriCore
• Feb 2003: Altium’s new compiler technology to deliver compact, fast code for TriCore developers
• Feb 2002: Altium’s TASKING brand first to support all Infineon microcontrollers

Purchasing the TASKING TriCore VX-toolset

Product codes

The TriCore VX-toolset is available on PC/Windows and Sun/Solaris platforms; other platforms on request.
Interested in a free demo C compiler for the TriCore? Download the fully working trial version in our shop on line.