VLSI rolls out tool suite for SoC designs

VLSI rolls out tool suite for SoC designs
SAN JOSE, Calif. — In another step in its plan to create an integrated development environment for system-on-chip designs built around ARM cores, VLSI Technology, a Philips Semiconductors subsidiary, has created the JumpStartXE tool suite.

In addition to allowing developers to do simultaneous code generation and code debugging, the tools also incorporate more features for system architectural analysis such as cache optimization before commitment to silicon. The approach is in line with the recent trend toward designing hardware and software in tandem. By developing them in tandem, complexities resulting from their interaction can be resolved at the design stage. If discovered later, the problem is much harder to fix.

Prior simulation of the entire system is often the best way to root out serious potential stumbling blocks in a project.

Supporting VLSI's Velocity Rapid Silicon Prototyping design methodology, JumpStartXE features a single user interface for debugging of ARM, DSP and mixed ARM/DSP multi-core designs. Built around Mentor Graphics' Xray Debugger as well as code generation tools from ARM Ltd. and the DSP Group, it supports real-time instruction and data-trace capabilities for deeply embedded SoC designs, allowing users to debug and profile hardware/software interactions, optimize system performance, perform system test and debug boot code.

JumpStartXE is currently available for the debugging of ARM-based Windows and Unix-Solaris systems. Support for DSP and ARM/DSP multicore systems will be available by the end of the year.