ARM DS-5 Application Edition

One criticism of Linux voiced by many engineers is that it has a steep learning curve, particularly with the tools side. This is particularly acute for engineers who have only been exposed to Windows-based development and have been 'thrown in the deep end' of a Linux embedded system development project.

ARM's DS-5 aims to reduce this learning cure, shortening the development cycle and allowing less eperienced engineers to be more productive in a iInux environment.

DS-5 includes:

Eclipse IDE with source code editor and project manager
GNU-based C/C++ compiler
Advanced GUI Debugger
Full Cortex-A8 software simulator
Documentation

DS-5 can run on Windows as well as Linux, which is welcome way to gently introduce Windows programmers to ARM Embedded Linux. The simulator allows development to be undertaken in advance of hardware availability, and provides a friendly no-hassle means of leaning the ropes.

ds5

The Eclipse IDE provides a number of features which accelerate development:

Source control integration (e.g. CVS and Subversion)
Outline view showing functions and variables in a module
Syntax colouring, checking and error highlight
Support for multiple detached / docked / tabbed code and debugger views, spread over multiple monitors as required

ds5_idemain

DS-5 is available for free download from ARM's Keil web until October 2010. See here for details.