ARM plans to ship in September a graphical tool aimed at allowing customers to create and modify their own “instruction-accurate virtual prototypes” of ARM-based chip designs. The ARM RealView System Generator will support ARM9 and ARM11 cores, and other ARM IP (intellectual property), enabling parallel hardware and software development, ARM says.

The System Generator will feature a drag-and-drop interface used to assemble virtual prototypes from models of ARM cores, ARM IP, and components such as LCDs, keyboards, and communication interfaces. The prototypes will be capable of running at speeds “comparable to currently available mobile devices,” ARM claims. The company says the prototypes can then be used by application developers, artists, and multimedia content designers to validate software and to test user experiences.

Gartner vice president and technology analyst Daya Nadamuni stated, “Virtual platforms that provide the software developer with an early view of the hardware and peripherals represent a big step forward. Software developers can explore different options, test and verify the product, and still hit the market window.”

The System Generator evolved from the RealView Real Time System Model tool shipped by ARM last summer for its ARM1176JZ(F)-S core. In addition to the ARM1176JZ(F)-S core, the System Generator will initially support fast core models for the ARM926EJ-S and ARM1136JF-S cores, ARM says, along with an unspecified number of ARM's “PrimeCell” peripherals.

Availability

The RealView System Generator is expected to ship in September.

Open source ARM simulation tools may also be available from the SkyEye Project.

 
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