CAD-UL Sets Standard for C++ Performance on the x86.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 1999-- First embedded compiler system with full MMX (MultiMedia EXtensions) A set of 57 additional instructions built into the Pentium MMX chip for improved multimedia and modem performance by performing mathematical operations on multiple sets of data at the same time (see SIMD). support provides superior performance CAD-UL, a market leader in embedded development tools for x86/Pentium(R)/AMD-K6(R) families of microprocessors, today announced that its ANSI-compliant x86 C++ embedded compiler for Pentium II The successor to the Pentium Pro from Intel. Pentium II refers to the CPU chip or the PC that uses it. Code named "Klamath," the Pentium II was a Pentium Pro with MMX multimedia instructions. and K6 outperforms the most popular C++ compilers on MMX systems. CAD-UL's implementation of MMX support, combined with classical front- and back-end optimizations, produces a superior compiler system that generates extremely efficient machine code. Using standard optimizations, the CAD-UL compiler system produces faster code than Microsoft Visual C++(R) 6.0 (measured on Dhrystone 1.1). As the first company to support the entire MMX instruction set, CAD-UL is the only embedded tools vendor that allows programmers to completely develop MMX-based applications entirely in C++, rather than in a mixture of assembly language and C++. This speeds both the development cycle and application performance. The CAD-UL C++ compiler is also unique in that it supports debugging with or without optimizations turned on. In contrast, many compiler systems require that optimizations be turned off, denying developers the ability to debug To correct a problem in hardware or software. Debugging software means locating the errors in the source code (the program logic). Debugging hardware means finding errors in the circuit design (logical circuits) or in the physical interconnections of the circuits. the most optimized code possible. Further, other popular industry compilers supply only subsets of MMX functionality, requiring developers to first determine what necessary instructions are missing, and then implement them directly in assembly language. CAD-UL, however, supplies full documentation of all MMX builtin functions with examples of the generated low-level code. "While CAD-UL's tools are able to debug code with or without optimizations turned on, engineers have typically been forced to develop their applications with optimizations off," said Peter Horn Peter Rudolf Gisela Horn, born 7 December 1934 in Teplice Czech Republic. He is a well-known South African poet, who made his mark especially with his anti-Apartheid poetry. , managing director of CAD-UL, GmbH. "That is what makes our benchmarks so impressive; they reflect an advancement in real-world C++ performance, setting a new standard for developing with optimizations on." MMX Optimizations Enhance Performance CAD-UL has implemented these and other optimizations in its x86 C++ compiler in order to set standards for C++ code efficiency: --Front-End Optimizations--Exercise constant propagation, strength reduction, common sub-expression elimination, loop unrolling, tail recursion (programming) tail recursion - When the last thing a function (or procedure) does is to call itself. Such a function is called tail recursive. A function may make several recursive calls but a call is only tail-recursive if the caller returns immediately after it. E.g. , and more. --Back-End Optimizations--Perform code alignment for pipelining and provide an instruction scheduler for Pentium. --Cache Performance--Arranges code and data to minimize instruction cache misses and to optimize the prefetch To bring data or instructions into a higher-speed storage or memory before it is actually processed. See cache. prefetch - instruction prefetch --Opcode Maximization--Utilizes the new opcodes of PentiumPro and Pentium II such as CMOVcc and FCOMI FCOMI Floating Point Conditional Move Instructions . --Branch Prediction--Implements an algorithm for conditional branches so that the most executed branch immediately follows the branch instruction (soon to be released). About MMX MMX, the next-generation multimedia instruction set for the Pentium II and K6 processors, was designed to augment performance of multimedia applications. In the embedded world, this encompasses image processing image processing Set of computational techniques for analyzing, enhancing, compressing, and reconstructing images. Its main components are importing, in which an image is captured through scanning or digital photography; analysis and manipulation of the image, accomplished , including video games See video game console. , printers, copiers, and embedded-Web appliances. It also includes applications that require filtering and DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive support--such as Electrocardiograms and other medical equipment. CAD-UL has leveraged the instruction set within the MMX silicon itself in order to optimize performance of its C++ compiler, in addition to supporting MMX technology itself. For example, MMX 64-bit data types and instructions are used in memory copying routines. Availability Beta testing (programming) beta testing - Testing a pre-release (potentially unreliable) version of a piece of software by making it available to selected users. This term derives from early 1960s terminology for product cycle checkpoints, first used at IBM but later standard throughout the for the highly-optimized CAD-UL x86 C++ Compiler is available today, and the product will be generally released later this year. It will support the Windows(R)95/98, Windows NT(R), UNIX UNIX Operating system for digital computers, developed by Ken Thompson of Bell Laboratories in 1969. It was initially designed for a single user (the name was a pun on the earlier operating system Multics). , and Linux platforms. Ethernet communication and RS232 communication are supported with most variants of CAD-UL's XDB XDB Lille, France (Airport Code) XDB Extended Database XDB Extended Debugger XDB Xml Data Base XDB Extended Data Base XDB External Data Base XDB Execute Disable Bit XDB Extra Dynamic Bass debugger, a core component of the CAD-UL x86 Embedded Tool Suite. The base price for the CAD-UL Embedded Tool Suite starts at $5,400 per seat on a PC, with network licenses and volume discounts also available. About CAD-UL Founded in 1984, CAD-UL is recognized as the industry leader in embedded software development tools for the x86 family of processors. The company has a global presence, with corporate offices in Germany, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and distributors in more than ten countries. CAD-UL provides a complete suite of embedded development tools for Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. In addition, the CAD-UL tool chain provides built-in support for the leading real-time operating system (operating system) Real-Time Operating System - (RTOS) Any operating system where interrupts are guaranteed to be handled within a certain specified maximum time, thereby making it suitable for control of hardware in embedded systems and other time-critical applications. and in-circuit emulator vendors. With more than 9,000 installations in telecommunications, avionics, medical instrumentation, automotive products, and industrial control/automation, CAD-UL products are used by more than 50,000 developers around the world. The company's customers include Siemens, Nokia, Alcatel, and numerous other companies in a wide range of industries. CAD-UL is an iso9001-certified vendor. For more information about CAD-UL please visit www.cadul.com. CAD-UL is a registered trademark of CAD-UL, GmbH. Pentium is a registered trademark of Intel, AMD-K6 is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, and Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. |
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