1999-08-09 , S/IC-2076/31
Product News From Philips Semiconductors

Philips Semiconductors today announced its next generation TriMedia™ Software Development Environment (SDE) Version 2.0, a scheduling compiler and full suite of software development tools for TriMedia VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) processors. The TriMedia SDE Version 2.0 includes tools to compile and debug multimedia applications and to optimize and analyze performance entirely in C/C++ programming languages. By using C/C++, designers streamline the application development process, reduce time-to-market and cost.

"The TriMedia Software Development Environment is based on Philips Semiconductors' breakthroughs in VLIW compiler technology," said Ayub Khan, director of software development, Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Business Line. "The result of a worldwide development effort, the second generation SDE has an improved VLIW compiler and optimization tools that allow developers to write and optimize applications for the TriMedia processor, from start to finish, in high-level languages."

Unlike traditional DSP development environments, SDE Version 2.0 allows multimedia applications to be developed and optimized in C/C++, instead of assembly language, significantly reducing application development time and expense, while simplifying the porting of existing applications.

The SDE also supports the TriMedia Streaming Software Architecture (TSSA). Developed by Philips Semiconductors, TSSA is a set of guidelines that promotes interoperability and reusability of components. The TSSA framework allows systems to be built from software components supplied by different vendors via a method of constructing and connecting autonomous, task-based software modules that then stream data between the various modules.

A significant portion of the new tool set is the TriMedia Compilation System (TCS), which includes a compiler, scheduler, linker, loader and profiler. The tool suite supports five levels of optimization including in-lining, complex control flow analysis, inter-procedural analysis, loop optimization and source level debugging with both a GUI and a command-line interface. The TriMedia SDE includes plug-ins to support Metrowerks® CodeWarrior® Integrated Development Environment. SDE 2.0 also provides device libraries and sample code for all on-chip peripheral units.

Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor is based on innovations in VLIW hardware and software technology. By processing up to five instructions with each clock cycle, a low cost TriMedia processor can achieve exceptional performance necessary for demanding multimedia applications. The TriMedia software compiler handles the complex instruction scheduling, and allows a TriMedia processor to be programmed entirely in C/C++ programming languages.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at  http://www.semiconductors.philips.com.

TriMedia is a trademark of Philips Electronics North America Corporation.
Metrowerks and CodeWarrior are registered trademarks of Metrowerks, Inc.