Freescale offers advanced software tools to simplify 32-bit embedded design

Freescale Semiconductor is simplifying 32-bit embedded application development with the introduction of CodeWarrior Development Studio for ColdFire Architectures v7.0. The next-generation software release gives designers and programmers advanced development tools and graphical interfaces that enable them to work more efficiently, creatively and productively.

Freescale has engineered the latest version of CodeWarrior software development tools to include built-in features and utilities that can significantly improve ease of use, speed and accessibility over previous CodeWarrior versions.

The CodeWarrior software tools emphasize usability and ease of application development. For example, the start-up dialog gives developers immediate access to the New Project Wizard, example projects and previous projects. The New Project Wizard makes it quick and easy to create a working project in as few as seven mouse clicks. The tools also offer product updates and service packs available directly from Freescale.

“Our customers are challenged continually to get better products to market faster than their competition, and they need simple, yet powerful, tools to successfully make this happen,” said Tim Tumilty, director of Freescale's Developer Technologies Organization. “Our latest version of CodeWarrior Development Studio provides customers an intuitive interface and out-of-the-box productivity. We’ve designed this latest version to be simple to use and easy to access, while keeping all of the powerful features users have come to expect from CodeWarrior tools.”

The CodeWarrior tools include optimized ANSI C/C++ compiler and libraries specifically designed to boost performance and reduce code size for embedded applications on ColdFire microcontrollers and microprocessors. The C compiler’s high level of functionality is readily available to first-time users, featuring an enhanced Windows operating system-driven graphical user interface (GUI).

The Device Initialization tool provides a fast and easy way to configure on-chip registers and generate initialization code. Programmers can add code directly to their project or create a separate text file.

Processor Expert software is now tightly integrated into the CodeWarrior Development Studio for ColdFire Architectures. Processor Expert is a rapid application design tool that makes migration between Freescale microcontrollers a breeze. Developers can use the graphical interface to define the functionality needed for their applications, and the Processor Expert tool generates tested, optimized C code tuned for their application and the selected ColdFire device.

CodeWarrior tool features
· New Project Wizard with on-screen help functions to set up a project in as few as seven clicks
· Optimized C/C++ compiler with new embedded libraries
· Graphical, source-level debugger
· Flash programming support for on-chip flash and external memory devices
· UNIS Processor Expert® with Bean Wizard™ and components for ColdFire controllers, on-chip peripherals, external peripherals and software algorithms
· UNIS Device Initialization tool to generate ColdFire MCU and on-chip peripheral initialization code

Freescale Semiconductor