New Green Hills Software C/C++ Compiler Generates Smallest Code

New Green Hills Software C/C++ Compiler Generates Smallest Code Footprint For ARM Processor Family

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2002-- Green Hills Software today 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(TM), ARM7(TM), ARM9(TM), ARM9E(TM) and ARM10(TM) processor families, and the ARM architecture-compliant Intel® StrongARM and XScale(TM) 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.

                              ARM Mode             Thumb Mode
                                      Green                    Green
                                      Hills                    Hills
                                    Software                 Software
                      ARM,    Green    3.6     ARM,    Green    3.6
                      Ltd.    Hills   better   Ltd.    Hills   better
                      ADS   Software than ADS  ADS  Software than ADS
                      1.2      3.6     1.2     1.2      3.6     1.2

Customer-1           25564    24620     4%    17264   16428      5%
Compress              4540     4596    -1%     3284    3252      1%
Customer-2           85923    71360    17%    57755   51256     11%
Dhrystone             3072     3096    -1%     2464    2444      1%
Customer-3           55477    48177    13%    40301   35901     11%
Customer-4            2012     1820    10%     1208    1180      2%
Customer-5            7392     6876     7%     5144    4900      5%
Linpack               4496     3660    19%     3376    2716     20%
Customer-6            2712     2208    19%     1932    1572     19%
Customer-7           30124    23816    21%    24804   20450     18%
Customer-8           71417    68351     4%    50153   49953      0%
SPECint             100213    94640     6%    68257   70979     -4%
Stanford              8444     7412    12%     5760    5336      7%
Customer-9           99500    54131    46%    65388   44220     32%
Customer-10          20588    19198     7%    13612   13374      2%

       Total        521474   433961    17%   360702  323961     10%

"Atmel's customers have benefited from Green Hills Software's tools for ARM-based system development," commented Jacko Wilbrink, ARM product manager of Atmel Inc. "As an embedded ARM component manufacturer, we value such tools and are especially pleased with the performance of this latest release of MULTI. Small code size is essential for our customers' applications, particularly those utilizing integrated flash memory."

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(TM). 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(TM) 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(TM) 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(TM), 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.