EDN — 05.23.96 ARM architecture makes strong showing at Embedded Systems Conference

Out in Front: May 23, 1996

ARM architecture makes strong showing at Embedded Systems Conference

The processor architecture from Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Ltd received a boost in third-party software support at the April Embedded Systems Conference in Boston. A number of operating-system (OS) and tool vendors announced products for the ARM architecture. Citing the versatility and low cost of the ARM architecture, Cygnus Support, Enea OSE Systems, JMI Software Systems, and Wind River Systems announced ARM-related products.

Cygnus Support will develop new technology for its GNU Pro software-development suite in support of the ARM7 processor family. The Cygnus GNU Pro includes C and C++ compilers, a remote, windowing source-level debugger, a macro assembler, and binary-file utilities.

Enea OSE Systems has ported its OSE Basic real-time operating system (RTOS) to the ARM family. Prices for OSE Basic, including debugging tools, start at $10,000. OSE Basic is a ROMable message-based RTOS that offers four upwardly compatible performance levels. OSE Basic is the second level. Levels 3 and 4 add distributed and fault-tolerant attributes.

JMI Software Systems has ported its C Executive real-time kernel and PSX Posix extensions to the ARM family, including ARM6, ARM7, ARM8, and StrongARM family members. C Executive is a ROMable, multitasking OS that can use PC/DOS files on external media and provide Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and Simple Network Management Protocol communications. PSX is a 60% subset of Posix.1 system calls and is available as an extension to C Executive. A development package for C Executive costs $2500; PSX costs $3750.

Wind River Systems plans to port its Tornado development tool set and WindView system-visualization tool to ARM processors. The Tornado tool set incorporates the VxWorks OS; debugging tools; and a variety of links, such as in-circuit emulators or serial lines, between host and target. The tool set allows any tool access to the target, regardless of the link, and allows tools to exchange information. WindView provides graphical displays of program execution, allowing developers to see operations such as task switching and interrupt response in a time-line chart. The products will be available for ARM processors in the fourth quarter and will cost $16,500 for the first development seat of Tornado and $5000 for WindView.

—by Richard A Quinnell

Cygnus Support, Mountain View, CA. (415) 903-1400.

Enea OSE Systems, Taby, Sweden. +46 8 638 50 00.

JMI Software Systems, Spring House, PA. (215) 628-0840.

Wind River Systems, Alameda, CA. (510) 748-4100.