Metrowerks aims CodeWarrior at microcontroller market

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May 24, 2005

[Updated 9:30am PDT] -- Metrowerks returns to its 68K roots today -- and to parent company Freescale's side -- as it begins bundling a size-limited version of its embedded development tools with two new 32-bit Freescale chips aimed at the microcontroller market. Additionally, Metrowerks will maintain uClinux BSPs and toolchains for all uClinux-capable ColdFire chips, it says, including one of the new Freescale chip families launched today.

(Click for larger view of development board for the MCF520x line)

The new Freescale families launched today include the Ethernet-enabled MCF520x, and the simpler MCF521x. They target the microcontroller (MCU) market, where networking and performance requirements are driving a shift toward 32-bit CPUs, Metrowerks says. Typical applications include factory automation, lighting control, security, and retail point-of-sale scanners.

Free and low-cost tools

The free "Special Edition" version of CodeWarrior to be bundled with the new chips is size-limited to projects no larger than 128KB code size, and is physically restricted to parallel and USB-based debugging. However, it does include a ColdFire optimizing compiler "designed for maximizing performance and generating compact code," Metrowerks claims.

The Special Edition of CodeWarrior will be distributed initially with the MCF5208 and the MCF5213. Metrowerks will also produce a basic uClinux BSP for the MCF5208. The MCF5213, however, is limited to 256KB of Flash memory, and is therefore not usable with uClinux.

Additionally, Metrowerks will offer a more full-featured "Standard" version of CodeWarrior aimed at industrial developers, and priced appropriately for a market in which chips typically cost between $5 and $10, according to Manager of Product Marketing Greg Hemstreet. "Projects based on chips in the $5 - $10 range today are using GNU tools," Hemstreet said.

The "Standard" version of CodeWarrior will be priced at about $2,500, and will lack only a couple of features found in the $6,000 full-featured "Professional" version, Hemstreet said. Missing features include support for Ethernet-connected debuggers such as those from Abatron, and support for debugging real-time operating systems.

The uClinux-capable MPC5208

The MCF5208 is based on a 166MHz ColdFire (68K-derived) V2 core said to deliver 159 Dhrystone MIPS (millions of instructions per second). The core includes an enhanced MAC module and hardware divide, and low power optimizations, Freescale says.

MCF520x architecture diagram
On-chip peripheral interfaces include:

8K bytes I/D-Cache
16K bytes SRAM
Optional 10/100 Ethernet MAC (MCF5208 only)
3 UARTs
Queued Serial Peripheral Interface (QSPI)
I2C bus interface
4 ch. 32-bit timers with DMA support
16 ch. DMA controller
16-bit DDR / 32-bit SDR SDRAM controller
Up to 50 General-Purpose I/O
System Integration (PLL, SW Watchdog)
1.5V core, 2.5V DDR, 3.3V I/O voltages

Since it supports off-chip memory, and has a built-in Ethernet interface, the MCF5208 is a good candidate for uClinux, according to Metrowerks.

"We're making sure uClinux will become ubiquitous across all ColdFire chips that can run Linux. In other words, that have enough memory, and have Ethernet," said Hemstreet. Of Metrowerks's increasing ties with parent company Freescale, Hemstreet added, "I can say that I carry a Freescale business card, and consider myself to be an employee of Freescale."

Availability

Samples of the MCF521x family are currently available, and samples of the MCF520x family are expected to be available in June. The MCF5208 is supported by the M5208EVB development board. A basic uClinux BSP for the MCF5208 will also be available in about a month, according to Hemstreet.

The Standard Edition of CodeWarrior for the MCF5208 and MCF5213 is also available now, priced at $2,495 per seat. It supports assembly and C programming, includes a simulator, supports USB and parallel port interfaces, and has no code-size restrictions. It is suitable for bare-board or custom OS development, Metrowerks says.

The Professional version of CodeWarrior, also available now, is priced at $6,000 per seat. It supports C++ development, Ethernet-connected debugging devices, and has "RTOS debug awareness."

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