The TriCore architecture from Infineon® Technologies is a revolutionary single-core 32-bit microcontroller/DSP design, optimized to offer the best of three worlds: real-time capabilities of a high-speed microcontroller, computational prowess of a DSP and the performance/price ratio of RISC load/store architecture.
Built upon the strong co-operation with Infineon®, the TASKING TriCore Software Development Toolset is commonly regarded as the defacto industry standard for TriCore architecture software developments. The toolset consists of C and C++ compilers, TriCore and PCP assemblers, linker/locator and CrossView Pro debugger, all integrated into Altium's Embedded Development Environment.
New in TriCore VX-toolset release v3.1
- Derivative support for Audo Future device TC1736, including simulator support
- TriBoards for TC1767 and TC1797 supported with OCDS debugger
- TriCore C compiler and PCP C compiler run-time improvement on Windows XP
- Improved code generation by TriCore C compiler and PCP C compiler
- Support for new CPU functional problems
A detailed overview of all changes in the latest revision is provided in the Release Note.
New in TriCore VX-toolset release v3.0
- Industry-standard Eclipse™ IDE integration
- New debugger technology, fully integrated into Eclipse, ready for the latest industry debugging trends like multi-core application development
- TriCore C compiler enhancements
- Code profiling support in the compiler for collecting application statistics, helping to indentify areas that could benefit from efficiency improvements
- Run-time error checking, helping to detect errors during program execution
- Code optimization improvements
- Significantly enhanced C compiler for the Peripheral Control Processor (PCP)
- Eclipse IDE integration of PCP C compiler
- Linker Script Language editor in Eclipse IDE
- Flash memory programming support
- Debugger support for the new Infineon (USB to JTAG) miniWiggler and two new Hitex evaluation boards
- Derivative support for AUDO Future devices TC1767 and TC1797
- Functionally similar to VX-toolset for C166 now, allowing for easier migration from C166 to TriCore
For an overview of all changes in v3.0r1 of the VX-toolset, read the Release Note
In addition to the new toolset release v3.1 Altium still provides many previous versions, such as v2.5r2, as well as v2.2r3, which is appointed by AUTOSAR as the default compiler for 32-bit reference designs. Versions prior to v3.0 are delivered with EDE and the CrossView Pro debugger.
The TASKING TriCore VX-toolset overview
IDE and C/C++ optimizing compilers
- Integrated Development Environment based on Eclipse, enabling extensibility though plug-ins from third parties (e.g. for RTOS configuration or debugging)
- Includes C, C++/EC++ compilers with integrated MISRA C enhanced code checking
- C and C++/EC++ compiler for TriCore
- C compiler for Peripheral Control Processor (PCP)
- Conformant to many industry standards:
- ISO/IEC 9899:1999(E), as well as ANSI-C X3.159-1989; C++ compatible with ISO/IEC 14882:1998(E)
- MISRA C guidelines supported: MISRA-C:1998 and MISRA-C:2004
- Infineon's TriCore EABI
- ANSI/IEEE-754 floating point support
- ELF/DWARF support for tool interoperability
- C/C++ libraries, run-time libraries, floating-point libraries provided in source code
- Project set up wizard to help you to configure a new project
- Conversion utility for project migration from EDE (toolset release v2.x) to Eclipse IDE (release v3.0+)
- Specific support for available TriCore devices
- TriCore CPU functional problem support:
- Code bypasses generated by the compiler
- Code checks by the assembler
- Protected libraries, tuned per TriCore derivative
Assemblers, linker/locator
- TriCore main core assembler
- TriCore 1 / TriCore 2 Architecture step support
- FPU and MMU support
- PCP (Peripheral Control Processor) assembler
- PCP 1 / PCP 2 Architecture step support
- Versatile linker/locator script language, with dedicated editor in Eclipse IDE
- Powerful data/code overlaying facilities
- Data/code section allocation
- Automatic and user specified allocation in target memory
Integrated Debugger
- Debugging in C++, C and assembly through a simulator or On-Chip (OCDS) debugger
- Seamless integration of the debugger into the Eclipse IDE
- Simulator debugger supports the TriCore and the PCP and is included with all product bundles
- Wizard to help you configure your project to run on an evaluation board
- On-Chip debugging is supported through a USB-JTAG adapter or a simple parallel cable for Infineon evaluation boards. The USB-JTAG adapter is often provided with Infineon starter kits, but also available from Altium
- For OCDS the TASKING debugger makes use of Infineon's Device Access Server (DAS), which is provided with the toolset
- DAS allows remote debugging over a TCP/IP network
- Integrated support for programming flash memory
- OSEK kernel-aware debugging, ORTI 2.0 and 2.1 based
Supported TriCore devices
| TC11IB | TC1100 | TC1115 | TC1130 | ||
| TC1161 | TC1162 | TC1163 | TC1164 | TC1165 | TC1166 |
| TC1736 | |||||
| TC1762 | TC1764 | TC1765 | TC1766 | TC1767 | TC1775 |
| TC1792 | TC1796 | TC1797 | |||
| and more ... |
Note: Legacy TriCore microcontrollers are supported by the TASKING TriCore toolset v2.5r2 or earlier.
Third-party tools supporting the TASKING TriCore C compiler
- RTOS:
See the TriCore RTOS partners page. - In-Circuit Emulator / JTAG Interface / debugger solutions:
Ashling Microsystems, Hitex Development Tools, Lauterbach Datentechnik, pls, Signum Systems - Evaluation boards:
Infineon Technologies, Hitex Development Tools, Phytec, TQ-Components - Communication protocols:
CMX, DECOMSYS, port GmbH, Vector Informatik - Software design and test tools:
dSPACE, i-Logix, Infineon (DAvE), The MathWorks, RistanCASE, Razorcat, Telelogic, Visu-IT! - Consultancy and/or training:
Altium Professional Services, Embedded Systems Academy, Geensys, MicroConsult - AUTOSAR:
ETAS, Geensys
For more detailed information on third party tools support for the TASKING TriCore VX-toolset, take a look at the TASKING TriCore 'VX' third-party Product Guide (PDF).
Read more about the TASKING TriCore compiler solutions
Recommended reading
Press releases related to the TriCore C compiler
- Jan 2007: EEMBC Announces Benchmark Scores for Infineon's TriCore®-Based TC1796 Automotive Microcontroller
- Feb 2005: Altium offers TASKING TriCore VX-toolset v2.2 supporting Infineon Technologies
- Feb 2004: Altium announces support for Infineon’s new TC1130 microcontroller
- May 2003: New TASKING toolset from Altium uses Viper compiler Core technology to increase code efficiency for TriCore
- Feb 2003: Altium’s new compiler technology to deliver compact, fast code for TriCore developers
- Feb 2002: Altium’s TASKING brand first to support all Infineon microcontrollers
Purchasing the TASKING TriCore VX-toolset
If you would like to purchase a TASKING compiler license contact your local Altium Sales & Support Center, Reseller or order online.
Product codes
| 07-200-160-804: | Standard Edition VX-toolset for TriCore. Eclipse IDE, TriCore C/C++ compiler, TriCore and PCP assembler, linker/locator and simulator debugger |
| 07-200-160-806: | Professional Edition VX-toolset for TriCore Eclipse IDE, C/C++ compiler, TriCore and PCP assembler, linker/locator, Flash memory programming, simulator and OCDS, and TCP/IP stack reference design |
| 07-200-160-808: | Premium Edition VX-toolset for TriCore. Eclipse IDE, TriCore C and C++ compiler, PCP C compiler, TriCore and PCP assembler, linker/locator, Flash memory programming, simulator and OCDS, and TCP/IP stack reference design |
| 07-290-000-001: | USB-JTAG wiggler for OCDS debugging. Optional to Professional or Premium Edition |
The TriCore VX-toolset is available on PC/Windows and Sun/Solaris platforms; other platforms on request.
Download or order the full version for a 15-day evaluation.