8.2 Tools and Software
TI offers an extensive line of development tools. Tools and software to evaluate the performance of the device, generate code, and develop solutions are listed below.
NOTE
Unless otherwise specifically available, please use AM335x documentation, models, tools, and so on.
Design Kits and Evaluation Modules
AM335x Industrial Communications EngineA development platform targeted for systems that specifically focus on the industrial communications capabilities of the Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 Processors.
TI Designs
EtherCAT Communications Development PlatformAllows designers to implement real-time EtherCAT communications standards in a broad range of industrial automation equipment. It enables low foot print designs in applications such as industrial automation, factory automation or industrial communication with minimal external components and with best in class low power performance.
PROFIBUS Communications Development PlatformAllows designers to implement PROFIBUS communications standards in a broad range of industrial automation equipment. It enables low foot print designs in applications such as industrial automation, factory automation or industrial communication with minimal external components and with best in class low power performance.
Ethernet/IP Communications Development PlatformAllows designers to mplement Ethernet/IP communications standards in a broad range of industrial automation equipment. It enables low foot print designs in applications such as industrial automation, factory automation or industrial communication with minimal external components and with best in class low power performance.
Acontis EtherCAT Master Stack Reference DesignHighly portable software stack that can be used on various embedded platforms. The EC-Master supports the high performane TI Sitara MPUs, it provides a sophisticated EtherCAT Master solution which customers can use to implement EtherCAT communication interface boards, EtherCAT based PLC or motion control applications. The EC-Master architectural design does not require additional tasks to be scheduled, thus the full stack functionality is available even on an OS less platform such as TI Starterware suported on AM335x. Due to this architecture combined with the high speed Ethernet driver it is possible to implement EtherCAT master based applications on the Sitara platform with short cycle times of 100 microseconds or even below.
PRU Real-Time I/O Evaluation Reference DesignBeagleBone Black add-on board that allows users get to know TI’s powerful Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) core and basic functionality. The PRU is a low-latency microcontroller subsystem integrated in the Sitara AM335x and AM437x family of devices. The PRU core is optimized for deterministic, real-time processing, direct access to I/Os and ultra-low-latency requirements. With LEDs and push buttons for GPIO, audio, a temp sensor, optional character display and more, this add-on board includes schematics, bill of materials (BOM), design files, and design guide to teach the basics of the PRU.
Software
Processor SDK for AM335X Sitara SoC - Linux and TI-RTOS SupportUnified software platform for TI embedded processors providing easy setup and fast out-of-the-box access to benchmarks and demos. All releases of Processor SDK are consistent across TI’s broad portfolio, allowing developers to seamlessly reuse and migrate software across devices. Developing scalable platform solutions has never been easier than with the Processor SDK and TI’s embedded processor solutions.
TI Dual-Mode Bluetooth StackComprised of Single-Mode and Dual-Mode offerings implementing the Bluetooth 4.0 specification. The Bluetooth stack is fully Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) qualified, certified and royalty-free, provides simple command line sample applications to speed development, and upon request has MFI capability.
Development Tools
Clock Tree Tool for Sitara ARM SoCInteractive clock tree configuration software that provides information about the clocks and modules in Sitara devices.
Code Composer Studio (CCS) Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Sitara ARM SoCIntegrated development environment (IDE) that supports TI's Microcontroller and Embedded Processors portfolio. Code Composer Studio comprises a suite of tools used to develop and debug embedded applications. It includes an optimizing C/C++ compiler, source code editor, project build environment, debugger, profiler, and many other features. The intuitive IDE provides a single user interface taking you through each step of the application development flow. Familiar tools and interfaces allow users to get started faster than ever before. Code Composer Studio combines the advantages of the Eclipse software framework with advanced embedded debug capabilities from TI resulting in a compelling feature-rich development environment for embedded developers.
Pin Mux ToolProvides a Graphical User Interface for configuring pin multiplexing settings, resolving conflicts and specifying I/O cell characteristics for TI MPUs. Results are output as C header/code files that can be imported into software development kits (SDK) or used to configure customer's custom software. Version 3 of the Pin Mux utility adds the capability of automatically selecting a mux configuration that satisfies the entered requirements.
Power Estimation Tool (PET)Provides users the ability to gain insight in to the power consumption of select TI processors. The tool includes the ability for the user to choose multiple application scenarios and understand the power consumption as well as how advanced power saving techniques can be applied to further reduce overall power consumption.
Uniflash Standalone Flash Tool for TI Microcontrollers (MCU), Sitara SoC and SimpleLink devicesPrograms on-chip flash memory on TI MCUs and onboard flash memory for Sitara SoC. Uniflash has a GUI, command line, and scripting interface. CCS Uniflash is available free of charge.
XDS200 USB Debug ProbeConnects to the target board via a TI 20-pin connector (with multiple adapters for TI 14-pin, ARM 10-pin and ARM 20-pin) and to the host PC via USB2.0 High Speed (480Mbps). It also requires a license of Code Composer Studio IDE running on the host PC.
XDS560v2 System Trace USB and Ethernet Debug ProbeAdds system pin trace in its large external memory buffer. Available for selected TI devices, this external memory buffer captures device-level information that allows obtaining accurate bus performance activity and throughput, as well as power management of core and peripherals. Also, all XDS debug probes support Core and System Trace in all ARM and DSP processors that feature an Embedded Trace Buffer (ETB).
XDS560v2 System Trace USB Debug ProbeAdds system pin trace in its large external memory buffer. Available for selected TI devices, this external memory buffer captures device-level information that allows obtaining accurate bus performance activity and throughput, as well as power management of core and peripherals. Also, all XDS debug probes support Core and System Trace in all ARM and DSP processors that feature an Embedded Trace Buffer (ETB).
Models