New Green Hills C/C++ compiler: smallest code footprint for ARM processor family.

Green Hills Software has announced the industry's most efficient optimizing C/C++ compiler and assembler for the ARM family of microprocessor cores.

The new compiler and assembler, part of version 3.6 of the MULTI 2000 Integrated Development Environment, greatly simplify the development of fast, compact code for embedded systems utilizing the ARM6, ARM7, ARM9, ARM9E and ARM10 processor families, and the ARM architecture-compliant Intel StrongARM and XScale microarchitectures.

"Version 3.6 of our compiler contains many advanced features that make it easier for designers to develop ultra-fast, compact code under real-world conditions," said John Carbone, vice president of marketing for Green Hills Software. "With this new compiler, we're able to offer ARM developers the smallest code size for their memory-constrained embedded applications."

Green Hills Software's new compiler outperformed ARM's ADS 1.2 compiler on a battery of programs collected by Green Hills Software over its 20 years in the compiler business. These programs include synthetic benchmarks like SPEC, Stanford, Linpack and Dhrystone, but also customer code spanning a variety of real-world embedded applications. On the full set of tests, Green Hills Software's ARM 3.6 compiler generated code that was 17% smaller than that generated by the ADS 1.2 compiler in ARM Mode and 10% smaller in Thumb Mode. Both compilers were set to use optimizations that produce minimum code size.

In addition to producing smaller object code size, which is valuable in memory-constrained embedded applications like ABS systems, disk drive controllers, and handheld devices, the new compiler is fully compatible with ARM's assembly language, making it easy to use existing library routines and ROM Monitors. All compiler options are available for the user through the MULTI Builder GUI, and as command-line options in makefiles.

The MULTI IDE provides a comprehensive set of capabilities for software development using Windows, Solaris, Linux, or HP/UX host platforms. The MULTI IDE features a graphical program builder, source-level debugger, window-oriented editor, run-time error checker, version control system, performance profiler, optimizing ARM/Thumb profiler (CodeBalance), and real-time RTOS EventAnalyzer. MULTI also features instruction set (SimARM) and cycle-count accurate (the ARMulator software) simulators that allow programmers to develop and test code on a PC or workstation without the need for target hardware.

The MULTI 2000 debugger is RTOS aware, enabling designers working with popular RTOSes like INTEGRITY and ThreadX to debug their applications and monitor OS resources, buffers, queues, and streams at the task level. The MULTI debugger supports freeze-mode and run-mode debugging, which enables programmers to perform debug functions and inspect processor/system resources with either the entire system, or individual tasks halted. The MULTI debugger also supports ARM's Embedded Trace Macrocell technology for real-time trace, which enables programmers to acquire target data and program flow information as the program executes without having to halt the processor.

MULTI supports a variety of host/target connectivity and debug options, including the Green Hills Probe, the ARM Multi-ICE, the Angel ROM Monitor, Agilent's Emulator Probe, EPI's JEENI and Macraigor's OCDemon.

The MULTI Development Environment for the ARM core, including a C/C++ compiler, assembler, linker, and instruction set simulator, costs $5900 (single-seat developer's license) for a node-locked license, and $8900 for a floating license.

Founded in 1982, Green Hills Software Inc. is a provider of real-time operating systems and software development tools for 32- and 64-bit embedded systems. Green Hills Software's royalty-free INTEGRITY and ThreadX real-time operating systems, fully integrated with its market leading compilers and MULTI Integrated Development Environment, provide a total development and run-time solution that addresses both deeply embedded and maximum-reliability applications.