TimeSys is shipping a major update to the Eclipse-based tools available with its subscription-based online service for embedded Linux developers. The LinuxLink Developer Suite, based on Eclipse 3.1 and CDT 3.0.1 (C Development Tool), is available as an add-on to existing LinuxLink customers, or as part of LinuxLink “Developer Edition.”

Despite its minor version number, Eclipse 3.1 represented more than a year of work by the Eclipse community when it was released about a year ago. New features include significant performance enhancements compared to Eclipse 3.0, support for bi-directional text, and improved preferences and properties support — a comprehensive changelog can be found here.

CDT 3.0 also appeared about a year ago, bringing faster parsing, easier plug-in authoring, new indexer options, and a more configurable build system with user-definable environment variables.

TimeSys says that in addition to standard Eclipse functionality, its Developer Suite provides innovative capabilities aimed specifically at embedded Linux developers. Touted features include:

• Stable, proven support for cross-platform application and Linux driver development from Linux and Windows-based hosts
• Sophisticated root file system design tool supporting multiple file system formats and runtime package types
• Industry leading support for embedded system profiling
• Consolidated target management with support for a wide variety of remote communication protocols
• Simplified validation of Linux deployed on embedded platforms
• LinuxLink integration and validation across all TimeSys LinuxLink products

TimeSys cites its strong corporate history of leadership with regard to Eclipse and embedded Linux. Four years ago, it was the first company to ready an Eclipse-based IDE specifically targeting embedded Linux development, it notes. Today, TimeSys asserts that its Developer Suite offers “the most comprehensive Eclipse solution,” along with “best of breed root file system design, system profiling, and debugging.”

Additionally, TimeSys two years ago shipped the first Eclipse-based IDE designed specifically to support “any Linux”. This move subsequently proved strategic to the launch last summer of Timesys's LinuxLink service, billed as “the first commercial offering to support the majority of embedded developers who build and assemble their own commercial-grade custom Linux platforms.”

TimeSys CEO Larry Weidman stated, “As the Eclipse platform has matured, TimeSys has continued to innovate and extend the Eclipse platform to provide comprehensive support across the embedded Linux development project lifecycle: driver development, application development, Linux verification, and platform optimization. The LinuxLink Developer Suite combines the power of an industry-leading IDE solution with sophisticated Web-based tools for creating and maintaining Linux platforms over multiple product release cycles.”

Availability

Developer Suite is available now as an upgrade option for current LinuxLink subscribers, or bundled with LinuxLink in a Developer Edition.

TimeSys competitor Wind River upgraded its Eclipse-based Workbench suite to Eclipse 3.1 technology late last year.

TimeSys Eclipse-related whitepapers include:

• Creating embedded Linux filesystems with graphical tools
• Application development with Eclipse-based IDEs
• Simplifying Embedded Linux Development with Graphical Tools

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.