IAR Systems makes major updates to leading tools for low-power Renesas MCUs

Renesas Electronics’ RL78 and new version of IAR Embedded Workbench® offer even further enhanced possibilities for building high-performance, energy-efficient systems

Uppsala, Sweden - March 19, 2013 - Today, IAR Systems® releases a new version of its development tool suite IAR Embedded Workbench for Renesas RL78. The new version 1.30 adds a large amount of new functionality for code writing and debugging. For simplified code writing, the new version uses IAR Systems’ new text editor and source browser, which includes user-friendly features such as auto-completion, parameter hints, code folding, block select and indent, bracket matching, zooming and word/paragraph navigation. Also added is project connections functionality for automated integration with device configuration tools. This makes it possible to import files or file packages generated by such external code generation tools and enables IAR Embedded Workbench to automatically detect changes in the generated file set. New in the comprehensive C-SPY® Debugger is the possibility to connect an E1 or E20 emulator to a running system to inspect it without interrupting program execution. Also introduced are Sampled Graphs and several new windows. The Sampled Graphs allow you to specify variables for which you want to collect data samples. You can view the sampled data either in table format in the Data Sample window or as graphs in the Sampled Graphs window. A new Custom SFR window lets you define custom special function registers (SFRs) in C-SPY with selectable access size and type, while the Call Graph window displays all calls made to and from each function from any source file in the active project. The new Macro Quicklaunch window makes it possible to evaluate expressions and to launch C-SPY macros. Thanks to the longstanding close relationship between IAR Systems and Renesas Electronics, IAR Embedded Workbench was the first set of tools available for developing the low-power RL78-based microcontrollers. Since the first release in March of 2011, IAR Systems has made several updates and improvements to the tools, including extraordinary optimizations for code size and speed. The new version brings even further improved optimizations that make code generated for floating-point operations even faster. IAR Systems is committed to continue to provide the world’s widest support for Renesas microcontrollers. The new version adds support for the latest RL78 devices together with various new example projects. Try the tools by downloading a free evaluation license from www.iar.com/ewrl78.

About IAR Systems IAR Systems is the world’s leading supplier of software tools for developing embedded systems applications. The software enables over 14 000 large and small companies to develop premium products based on 8-, 16-, and 32-bit microcontrollers, mainly in the areas of industrial automation, medical devices, consumer electronics, telecommunication and automotive products. IAR Systems has an extensive network of partners and cooperates with the world’s leading semiconductor vendors. IAR Systems Group AB is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm. For more information, please visit www.iar.com. Editor's Note: IAR Systems, IAR Embedded Workbench, C-SPY, visualSTATE, The Code to Success, IAR KickStart Kit, I-jet, IAR, and the logotype of IAR Systems are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by IAR Systems AB. All other products are trademarks of their respective owners.