Renesas Electronics Corporation, a supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, has announced an enhancement to its e² studio integrated development environment (IDE) tool for the Renesas Synergy Platform. Through its ongoing partnership with IAR Systems, an embedded development tools supplier, Renesas Synergy customers can now enjoy significant performance benefits by integrating IAR Systems’ IAR C/C++ Compiler into the Eclipse-based e² studio IDE.

Through its optimization technology, the IAR C/C++ Compiler can significantly reduce the application code, allowing developers to add more features to their Synergy microcontrollers (MCUs). The compiler’s industry-best execution speed for generated code is clearly documented in established speed benchmarks such as EEMBC® Coremark. Faster code execution speed enables an MCU to spend more time in low power modes to conserve battery life. Networked Internet of Things (IoT) devices use Synergy MCUs to monitor and/or control the surrounding environment and system components in home/building/industrial automation systems, home appliances, energy management systems, and healthcare and medical equipment.

Previously, e² studio users would build their applications using the standard GCC GNU compiler. This new collaboration with IAR Systems adds the option to use the IAR C/C++ Compiler directly from within e² studio, while keeping the existing option to use the proprietary IAR Embedded Workbench for Renesas Synergy IDE. System developers can access instructions for integrating the compiler into the e² studio by downloading the latest version of the e² studio tool. Providing the IAR C/C++ Compiler as an option ensures the full potential of the Synergy Platform is unlocked regardless of IDE preference.

“Synergy Platform customers can choose from two professional software development tools – e² studio or IAR Embedded Workbench – with no license or maintenance fees and no limitation on the number of user seats,” said Mark Rootz, Marketing Director, Synergy Platform Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “Enabling our e² studio users to access the IAR C/C++ Compiler demonstrates our commitment to increase the value and capabilities of the Synergy Platform by helping developers get through their design process faster than ever before.”

“Adding support for our advanced compiler technology to the e² studio tool gives developers additional options for optimizing their IoT applications,” said Anders Lundgren, Product Manager, IAR Systems. “Our close collaboration with Renesas Electronics provides Synergy Platform customers with the tools they need to speed their product innovations to market.”

The Synergy Platform is the first qualified, maintained, and fully supported software/hardware platform that accelerates time to market, reduces total cost of ownership and removes the obstacles engineers face designing IoT products. The Synergy Platform consists of fully integrated software, development tools and a wide range of scalable Arm Cortex-M based MCUs fully accessible through the software APIs. There are no upfront licensing fees or back-end royalties – everything is included in the purchase price of the MCU.