CodeSourcery has updated its commercially supported GNU- and Eclipse-based software development toolkits with compiler optimizations and other enhancements. The Spring release of Sourcery G++ also offers a QEMU emulator and updated runtime library routines, as well as new IDE debugging support, says the company.

(Click for a slightly larger view of Sourcery G++ build screen)

Based on the open source GNU Toolchain, Sourcery G++ is enhanced with additional testing, refinement, and commercial support, as well as an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE). Supporting both Linux and Windows on IA32 development hosts, the tools incorporate cross toolchains for target architectures that include ARM, ColdFire, fido, MIPS, PowerPC, Stellaris, and IA32. The Fall 2008 release added more automated configuration features, and expanded support for hardware-assisted debugging.

The Spring release of Sourcery G++ continues to add features that enhance the developer debugging experience, says CodeSourcery. For example, the toolkit is now said to have improved compiler performance, plus better debugging performance when stepping through multi-threaded applications. In addition, a QEMU-based simulator can run single- or multi-threaded GNU/Linux applications on a GNU/Linux host system, the company says.

Other improvements cited by CodeSourcery for the Spring release include the following:

• Ability to debug the Linux kernel using a JTAG or BDM device

• ARM GNU/Linux backtracing
• SEGGER J-Link support on ARM targets
• Ability to browse memory-mapped peripheral registers on Stellaris targets
• “Board Builder” in IDE for automatically generating linker scripts, debug configuration files, and start-up code for bare metal development based on a board's memory map
• Upgrade to Eclipse 3.4.1 (Ganymede) and CDT 5.0
• Support for Renesas Technology's SH4A and SH4AL-DSP processors for GNU/Linux target systems

Stated Mark Mitchell, Chief Sourcerer of CodeSourcery, “We've improved both the core compiler performance and the usability of the Sourcery G++ IDE in this release. Through our relationship with leading embedded companies, including ARM, Freescale, MIPS, and Renesas, and our leadership in the open-source community, we continue to add value to our Sourcery G++ tool suite for embedded developers.”

Availability

The Spring release of Sourcery G++ is available now, says CodeSourcery. Pricing was undisclosed, but has previously started at $400 for the personal edition.

 
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