IAR Systems announces major updates to its flagship compiler to support needs of enterprise developers

IAR Systems has announced the imminent launch of IAR Embedded Workbench® Version 5 for ARM®, a major upgrade to its flagship compiler and debugger, with support for the ARM EABI open standard and become the first independent tool vendor to support the new ARM Cortex™-M1 processor, the first ARM processor designed specifically for implementation in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5 was given a limited introduction earlier this year to existing customers. The new platform builds on IAR Systems wealth of experience with ARM devices, including Thumb and Thumb-2 technology-based development tools, to provide world-class performance. The tool set combines advanced optimizations with an intelligent workflow, managed from within a familiar and intuitive user interface. It provides all the benefits of a fully integrated development environment that includes C/C++ compiler, project manager, editor, build tools and the versatile C-SPY debugger.

By supporting ARM Embedded Application Binary Interface (EABI), the new Version 5 of IAR Embedded Workbench enables linking of object code from different parties supporting the ARM EABI standard, such as ARM RealView or GNU. This gives IAR Embedded Workbench users access to large projects that require object file standardization, a feature that will grow in importance as ARM EABI gains acceptance.

With IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5 it has also become possible to link to third-party component libraries, a capability that is becoming increasingly important as application complexity and code size increase. With the implementation of ARM EABI the integral C-SPY debugger can now also be used to debug code in ELF/DWARF format from other vendors.

Another key feature is the new linker, called ILINK, is significantly faster, to minimize the time it takes to perform a new link in more complex applications.
In addition IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5 has more than 500 code and project examples for a vast selection of devices and evaluation boards.
IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5 for ARM offers core support for all current ARM devices: ARM7, ARM9, ARM9E, ARM10E, ARM11, Cortex M1, Cortex M3, SecurCore, Intel XScale. It includes ready-made peripheral register definition files for ARM-powered devices from Analog Devices, Atmel, Cirrus Logic, Freescale, Handshake Solutions, Intel, Luminary, NetSilicon, OKI, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, STMicroelectronics and TI, along with Flash loaders for most devices and evaluation boards.

IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5 for ARM will be available from November 2007.

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