The MIPS-16 is a 16-bit architectural extension to MIPS Level 1-3 processors. Code that is compiled to use 32-bit instructions runs the fastest. Code compiled to use the 16-bit MIPS-16 instructions is the most compact, as much as 50% smaller. The Green Hills compilers enable users to combine the best features of both instructions sets, using 32-bit instructions for time-critical functions, and 16-bit instructions for the remainder of the program.

"The net result," remarked Green Hills Vice President of Marketing John Carbone, "is code that executes nearly as fast as code produced by a pure 32-bit processor, while occupying a fraction of the space. This space savings provides a tremendous benefit for embedded systems programmers with severe code-size constraints."

To help embedded systems programmers get the most out of MIPS-16 implementations, the MULTI Development Environment provides a run-time execution profiler. The profiler lets users see the code size and run time for each function as compiled using 16- or 32-bit instructions. Based on user-supplied size and speed constraints, the profiler outputs a set of command line directives to the compiler, which divides the source code into 16- and 32-bit segments to achieve the desired result.

The MULTI Development Environment and Green Hills compilers automate every aspect of C/C++ software development for MIPS and MIPS-16 processors, from editing and source-level debugging, to run-time error checking, application profiling, and project/version control. Moreover, MULTI provides a uniform set of capabilities across Windows 95, Windows NT, and Unix host platforms.

The heart of the MULTI environment is an RTOS-aware source-level debugger that features task- and system-level debug capabilities. The debugger also provides special support for C++ (including a Class Browser, object display and template debug capability) and X-Windows debugging.

MULTI's program builder, editor, and debugger are tightly integrated to offer quick, convenient single- and double-click transfers between debug mode and full source editing. For example, simply clicking on a compiler error message brings the user to the editor, opens the file containing the error, moves the cursor to the line containing the error, and highlights the error.

Green Hills' new scaleable C/C++ compiler lets programmers use switch options to select any subset of C++ they want, from bare bones C, to full-blown ANSI/ISO C++. The compiler also supports a new dialect of C++ known as Embedded C++ (EC++). Optimized for resource-constrained embedded applications, EC++ achieves the efficiency of C while preserving many of the best object-oriented features of C++.

Code that has been compiled for the MIPS/MIPS-16 will be able to run on target hardware in a bare bones mode, under Green Hills' own velOSity and INTEGRITY real-time operating systems, under Wind River Systems' VxWorks operating system, under custom real-time operating systems, under a variety of processor-specific in-circuit emulators (ICEs), and on targets that support BDM/JTAG interfaces.

More on Green Hills

Incorporated in 1982, Green Hills Software, Inc., is a leading supplier of software development tools for 32- and 64-bit embedded systems. Green Hills offers a family of optimizing Ada, C, C++, FORTRAN and Pascal compilers. The company also offers a software development environment known as MULTI that automates the compile-edit-build-debug cycle by integrating advanced facilities such as an RTOS-aware source-level debugger, profiler, program builder and source code control system.

Green Hills' tools support all major advanced microprocessor families and target environments, including instruction set simulators, ROM Monitors, commercial and home grown real-time operating systems (RTOS) and in-circuit emulators (ICE). Green Hills Software is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA., and has offices in Lexington, MA., Raleigh, N.C., Dallas, TX, Palm Harbor, FL., Scotts Valley, CA, and Paris, France. For sales information on Green Hills Software's products, please call 1-800-500-2580 or email inquiries to sales@ghs.com.