IAR enhances development toolchain for TI FRAM-based MCUs

8th December 2014

IAR Systems

Nat Bowers

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Adding new features and support for the latest MSP430 FRAM-based MCUs, IAR Systems has released a new version of its development toolchain, IAR Embedded Workbench for the MSP430 core from Texas Instruments. Support for several new FRAM MCUs has been added, including the RF430FRL15x sensor transponders that are a part of TI’s Security + Communications series.

A complete set of powerful and reliable tools for building and debugging embedded systems based on the 16-bit MSP430 family, IAR Embedded Workbench for MSP430's powerful build tools feature sophisticated optimisation technology creating the fastest performing, most compact code in the industry. This is crucial to keep the power consumption to a minimum for the ultra-low-power applications in which the MCUs are mainly used.

The latest version introduces selectable smaller math functions for even more compact code. More example projects from TI MSP430Ware have also been added. Developers can navigate to these projects directly from the Information Center in IAR Embedded Workbench.

The C-SPY Debugger is included with the tools, allowing developers to collect sampled graphs for a specified variable. The sampled data can be viewed either in table format or as graphs, enabling developers to track data values over time. Support is also added for advanced cycle counter when using TI’s FET debugger.

IAR Embedded Workbench includes a highly-optimising C/C++ compiler and the comprehensive C-SPY Debugger in a user-friendly integrated development environment. It also integrates Texas Instruments’ power optimisation teaching tool ULP Advisor software that uses a static code analyser to offer tips and tricks to help developers understand where they can improve their code to minimise power consumption.

Thomas Sporrong, Global FAE Manager, IAR Systems, comments: “We are really happy to continue to deliver outstanding technology to our large customer base in the MSP430 community. Our compiler technology is the most powerful in the market, and developers can trust our tools to do justice to their code. The latest functionality in our C-SPY Debugger includes sampled graphs, which add the ability to follow variables over time. This gives further possibilities for in-depth investigation of the application during debugging. Finding errors quickly is crucial for keeping production deadlines, not to mention the time and effort it saves the individual developer.”