Press Release

31 Jan 2005

Keil Development Suite for ARM Version 2.0

Plano, TX: Keil Software is pleased to announce Version 2 of the Keil Development Suite for ARM. This suite is based on the popular µVision IDE and integrates the Keil CARM Compiler, Macro Assembler, and Linker/Locater with USB-JTAG Debugging and Accurate Device Simulation found in the µVision Debugger. The Advanced RTX Real-Time Kernel is also available to make this a complete development system for ARM-based microcontrollers.

The Keil Development Suite for ARM is easy-to-use and has the same look-and-feel as the popular Keil C51 and C166 development platforms.

"The CARM Compiler, which is now fully released, is optimized for the ARM Thumb instruction mode and gives a 30% code size reduction compared to ARM native mode. The compiler, assembler, and linker are Keil products and are not based on other compiler technologies (like GNU or Cygnus). The C run-time library is coded primarily using Thumb mode which helps the CARM Compiler generate small, fast programs. Thumb code executes faster on most embedded systems since it requires less BUS bandwidth.", said Reinhard Keil, President, Keil Elektronik GmbH. "In addition, the Keil Development Suite for ARM provides everything needed to develop ARM-based microcontroller applications. The development suite includes startup code for most devices with device-specific configuration options, extensive example projects, and pre-configured programming algorithms for many popular Flash devices."

The Keil tools (like most other ARM development tools) support the Embedded ICE in the ARM core. Unfortunately, the Embedded ICE provides limited debugging capabilities (only two breakpoints) that many developers find unacceptable for debugging embedded systems. While other ARM Development Suites rely solely on the Embedded ICE, the Keil µVision Debugger adds accurate simulation of the instruction set, on-chip peripherals, interrupts, and other device characteristics. Other advantages of µVision for ARM include detailed Trace and Timing Analysis and automated input patterns for regression testing. These extensive simulation capablities support detailed analysis of complex algorithms that interface to peripherals and help Embedded Developers overcome challenges unique to embedded systems projects.

An evaluation version of the Keil Development Suite for ARM may be downloaded from www.keil.com/demo.

About Keil Software

Keil Software makes C compilers, macro assemblers, real-time kernels, debuggers, simulators, integrated environments, and evaluation boards for the ARM, C16x/ST10, and 8051/251 microcontroller families. Products available from Keil Software include embedded development tools, evaluation software, product updates, application notes, example code, and technical support. More information is available from www.keil.com.