These enhancements include advanced debugging capabilities and sophisticated compiler optimisations, fully integrated with the Renesas Smart Configurator toolkit, design examples, rich documentation, and support for the Renesas fast prototyping board (FPB).
As the commercial sector's adoption of RISC-V architecture grows, the demand for robust, reliable, and comprehensive development tools has become increasingly evident. IAR addresses this need with an advanced toolchain that not only enhances developer productivity but also integrates essential aspects of functional safety and automated workflows, crucial for modern development practices. The IAR solution for RISC-V caters to diverse applications across various markets, including consumer electronics, medical devices, small appliances, and industrial systems.
Daryl Khoo, Vice President of Embedded Processing 1st Business Division at Renesas, stated: "IAR is a long-standing and valuable partner within the Renesas tools ecosystem, providing outstanding support for our various MCU architectures with the IAR Embedded Workbench. Thus, we were very happy to collaborate in the early stages to ensure IAR’s popular and complete development solution was in place for users of our new R9A02G021 MCU, the first MCU using Renesas’ own developed RISC-V core."
Transformative benefits for RISC-V adopters include:
- Enhanced productivity: IAR optimises the development process for RISC-V-based applications with full support for Renesas 32-bit RISC-V MCUs. It integrates seamlessly with the Renesas Smart Configurator code generation toolkit and fast prototyping board to expedite development and shorten time to market. The advanced debugging features enabled by the IAR I-jet probe ensure precise control and in-depth analysis, enabling faster, more efficient delivery of high-quality products.
- Functional safety: Adhering to stringent safety standards, the solution is certified by TÜV SÜD and designed to facilitate the development of safety-critical applications.
- CI/CD pipeline automation: the IAR development solutions fully support automated workflows and Continuous Integration (CI) pipelines on Linux or Windows, enabling continuous development, testing, and deployment processes.
Anders Holmberg, CTO at IAR, commented: "In an era where the complexity and demands of embedded software development are constantly evolving, our comprehensive development solution for RISC-V is more than just a toolset; it's a commitment to innovation and excellence. IAR released the first RISC-V tools supporting the opensource instruction set architecture (ISA) already in 2019, and we've tailored our solution to meet the specific needs of Renesas' first general-purpose 32-bit RISC-V MCUs, ensuring that every RISC-V commercial project benefits from the highest levels of efficiency, safety, and quality. This initiative reflects our dedication to empowering developers and advancing the embedded RISC-V industry as a whole."
Concurrently with the launch, IAR introduces a comprehensive eBook titled "The Ultimate Hands-On Guide: Getting Started with RISC-V by IAR". This resource is aimed at equipping embedded developers worldwide to quickly improve their skills, offering a structured approach to mastering RISC-V development using the IAR Embedded Workbench. It also includes references to the IAR Static Analysis tool, IAR C-STAT for RISC-V, to enhance code quality and efficiency.
