OTTAWA, Canada, March 16, 2004 - QNX Software Systems today unveiled its next-generation system builder, a powerful tool that lets embedded developers bring up and customize their target systems with point-and-click simplicity.An integral part of the QNX® Momentics® development suite Professional Edition v6.3, the system builder introduces a number of time-saving features, including a Board Support Package (BSP) import wizard, a binary inspector, a more powerful serial console, and intelligent rebuilds.
Designed to optimize workflow, the BSP import wizard sets a new standard for automating board bring-up. The developer simply selects a BSP to import, clicks on the desired BSP components (e.g. drivers), then clicks again to build the target system"s boot image. Any IDE projects required for imported source-code components are created automatically - there's no need to manually create a C/C++ project for every component, as you would with conventional tools.
The BSP import wizard works with an array of QNX BSPs, which support boards based on ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, SH-4, XScale, and x86/Pentium/Xeon processor cores.
To reduce build times, the new system builder will rebuild images only if their components have been modified. Other new features include an enhanced serial console to simplify the task of interacting with the embedded target; a binary inspector that displays the build version, usage information, and other properties of binary components; and easier editing of startup scripts.
"With traditional tools, developers can spend countless hours manually creating boot images and flash file-system images for their embedded targets. The new system builder for QNX Momentics v6.3 eliminates this tedious, error-prone process, giving developers more time to focus on what's important: writing good software," said Thomas Fletcher, manager of the tools development group at QNX. "But just as important, the developer remains in full control over the size and content of the target image. There's no loss of flexibility."
The new features complement the system builder's existing time-saving tools, which include an image browser that automatically tracks dependencies and a system optimizer that can automatically remove unused libraries, allowing developers to reduce the image's memory footprint with a single click.
More about QNX Momentics
From board bring-up to remote troubleshooting, the QNX Momentics development suite provides time-saving tools for the entire embedded development cycle. Its highly integrated IDE includes C, C++, and Java code editors, a graphical source debugger, and diagnostic tools for application profiling, system profiling, memory analysis, and code coverage. Designed for developers targeting the QNX Neutrino RTOS, QNX Momentics supports multiple development hosts (Windows, Linux, Solaris, QNX Neutrino) and an array of target processors (ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, SH-4, XScale, x86, etc.)
QNX Momentics demo at ESC
QNX Software Systems will showcase the new system builder at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco, from March 30 to April 1. Visit booth #2542.
Availability
The new system builder will be available in the QNX Momentics development suite v6.3, slated for commercial release in Q2 2004.
About QNX Software Systems
Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is the industry leader in realtime, microkernel OS technology. The inherent reliability, scalable architecture, and proven performance of the QNX Neutrino RTOS make it the most trusted foundation for future-ready applications in the networking, automotive, medical, and industrial automation markets. Companies worldwide like Cisco, Ford, Siemens, and Texaco depend on the QNX technology for their mission-
and life-critical applications. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, QNX Software Systems maintains offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, and distributes its products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit http://www.qnx.com.
Editorial Contact
Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com