IAR Systems optimizes RISC-V with new trace capabilities

IAR Systems, the future-proof supplier of software tools and services for embedded development, has extended the complete development toolchain IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V with additional trace functionality and new compiler optimizations.

Building on existing support for a range of MCUs and FPGAs from several vendors, the latest version 1.40 introduces support for Nuclei System Technology devices. In addition, this new version includes enhanced implementation of the draft P extension and intrinsics with support for the vectorized versions.

Through excellent optimization technology, IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V helps developers ensure the application fits the required needs and optimize the utilization of on-board memory. The latest version introduces several new compiler optimizations for speed and size, in addition to new optimized libraries for string handling. This results in improved size optimizations across a wide range of standard code bases, as well as significant improvements in speed optimizations for real-world benchmarks.

To ensure code quality, the toolchain includes C-STAT for integrated static code analysis. C-STAT proves code alignment with industry standards, such as MISRA C:2012, MISRA C++:2008, and MISRA C:2004, and also detects defects, bugs, and security vulnerabilities as defined by CERT C and the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE).

As previously announced, a functional safety edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V, certified by TÜV SÜD according to IEC 61508 and ISO 26262, will be available in early 2021, delivering qualified tools, simplified validation, and guaranteed support through the product lifecycle.

IAR Embedded Workbench offers native support for powerful debugging and trace probes, enabling additional capabilities for monitoring and understanding an application’s behavior. The debug probe I-jet supports on-chip RAM buffered trace, in addition to fast JTAG/cJTAG/DAP debug.

For live streaming of trace information for code coverage and profiling purposes, developers are able to use the trace probe, I-jet Trace. With I-jet Trace, IAR Embedded Workbench provides developers with full control of all active settings and the live trace status of the application.

Additionally, function profiling makes it possible to see and analyze timing information for the functions in an application, while code coverage analysis shows the percentage of code that has been executed down to a single instruction resolution. These combined capabilities offer a non-intrusive and easy-to-use code optimization tool.

With the latest version of IAR Embedded Workbench for RISC-V, the trace capabilities are extended with enhanced support for the SiFive Insight debug solution and added support for Trace trigger points, making it possible to tailor when to start and stop trace capture.