Tools to estimate software performance

Virtio Corp. in Santa Clara, Calif., extended its Virtual Platform technology to support accurate timing analysis in software simulation. Virtio’s Virtual Platforms deliver cycle-approximate transactional-analysis technology and provide a way for embedded-software developers to estimate the timing of routines and system software performance. Cycle-approximate transactional modeling and analysis accelerates time-to-market and can reduce the need for software redesign and performance tuning, company officials say. The tools simulate the behavior, timing, and performance of popular microprocessors such as ARM, Freescale MXC, TI OMAP, Intel XScale, and MIPS. These platforms model embedded processor cores, memory, and peripherals, providing developers with a framework for executing and testing code without requiring access to hardware. A Virtual Platform can also connect to real-world peripherals such as camera interfaces and LCDs for system-level testing. The processor models can execute targeted binaries as well as an operating system and can work with compatible debuggers such as Metrowerks CodeWarrior and ARM RealView. For more information contact Virtio online at www.virtio.com.