Metrowerks and Microware to Ship Codewarrior for OS-9 in October 1997
SAN JOSE, Calif. — September 30, 1997 — Metrowerks Inc. (NASDAQ:MTWKF; TSE/ME:MWK) and Microware Systems (NASDAQ:MWAR) announced this week at the Embedded Systems Conference West in San Jose that they will be shipping CodeWarrior for OS-9, software development tools supporting Microware's OS-9 real-time operating system (RTOS) in October 1997.
Hosted on Windows 95/NT, CodeWarrior for OS-9 is designed for Motorola's 68K and PowerPC microprocessors.
CodeWarrior for OS-9 includes the CodeWarrior Integrated Development Envrionment (IDE) and Microware's Ultra C/C++ optimizing compiler plug-in to generate state-of-the-art code for OS-9.
In addition, CodeWarrior for OS-9 includes Metrowerks' Java compiler for Java Virtual Machine (Java VM). All the power of the IDE's project manager, editor, browser, and debugger are fully accessible to the Metrowerks Java compiler.
CodeWarrior for OS-9 includes the CodeWarrior graphical debugger that communicates with the OS-9 target-resident debug services, and supports step mode, conditional breakpoints, data watchpoints, and expression evaluation. The programmer can view local and global variables, memory, and the processor registers. CodeWarrior debugs multiple processes, including processes running on different machines.
CodeWarrior for OS-9 is a direct result of Metrowerks' strategy to offer CodeWarrior embedded development tools for the RTOS/Windows CE market, proprietary OS market, and the embedded Java technology market.
Metrowerks and Microware will be demonstrating CodeWarrior for OS-9 at Embedded Systems Conference West, at booths No. 716 and No. 37, in San Jose, September 30 through October 2. OS-9 is a leading multi-tasking RTOS for mission critical embedded applications, including digital TV, Internet access devices, and wireless communications applications.
"For the first time, OS-9 programmers can work in a GUI development environment for a fraction of the cost of traditional embedded systems tools," said Jean Belanger, chairman and CEO of Metrowerks. "We're drawing on our experience with desktop system software development to create the same kind of modern, cost-effective tools for the embedded space."
"CodeWarrior for OS-9 is a milestone for embedded system developers. The quality of the tools in CodeWarrior for OS-9, coupled with the speed and power of the included Java compiler, and an affordable price of under $ 1000, provides a whole new world of opportunities," said Ken Kaplan, president and CEO of Microware Systems Corporation. "We're very pleased to have this chance to work with Metrowerks to help our customers get to market quicker and more cost-effectively."
Pricing and Availability CodeWarrior for OS-9 will ship in October 1997, priced at US$ 899, available from Metrowerks, Microware, Programmer's Paradise, and other Metrowerks authorized resellers and international distributors. All purchases include free product updates and technical support for a year from Metrowerks.
About Microware Microware develops, markets, and supports sophisticated real-time operating system software and development tools for advanced consumer, communications, and industrial products, including devices for the emerging Internet, wireless communications, and digital television markets. Microware is the first real-time embedded operating system software provider to receive ISO 9001 certification for its software development quality assurance methodologies.
Microware, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, was founded in 1977 and has technology and sales offices throughout the United States as well as in England, France, Germany, and Japan. Additional information on Microware can be found on the World Wide Web at www.microware.com .
About Metrowerks Embedded Systems Products CodeWarrior solutions for the embedded systems market start with the CodeWarrior IntegratedDevelopment Environment, or "IDE," a unified environment available for both desktop and embedded application development. The CodeWarrior IDE contains a complete set of tools including class browsers, debuggers, editors, and a state-of-the-art project manager which obsoletes "make" files. CodeWarrior embedded tools all feature the CodeWarrior two-machine source-level debugger which plugs seamlessly into the CodeWarrior IDE and communicates with the new MetroTRK (Target Resident Kernel).
MetroTRK, developed by Metrowerks and available in source to Metrowerks' licensees, is a software debug monitor for use with CodeWarrior source-level debuggers. MetroTRK is suitable for use as a board-level software debugger, or, in its extended form, as an application-level debugger.
CodeWarrior highly optimizing compilers, linkers and assemblers are available for the 68K, PowerPC, x86 and MIPS families of microprocessors for C, C++, and Java. Metrowerks has already announced that in 1998, it will add support for the NEC VR/V8xx, ARM, and Hitachi SuperH families of microprocessors.
CodeWarrior all-in-one programming tools are the foundation for Metrowerks' entry into the three major embedded markets: the proprietary OS market; the RTOS/Windows CE market; and the embedded Java technology market.
With over 100 software engineers, Metrowerks invests 35% of the company's revenues in CodeWarrior research and development. Metrowerks has the resources to create state-of-the-art embedded tools. With the CodeWarrior IDE already used by over 100,000 registered desktop users in 75 countries, Metrowerks' CodeWarrior IDE development costs can be amortized over a very large number of users. This competitive advantage enables Metrowerks to sell CodeWarrior embedded tools at the ground-breaking price of under $ 1,000 per seat.
Note to Editors: Metrowerks, the Metrowerks logo and CodeWarrior are registered trademarks, and MetroTRK is a trademark of Metrowerks Inc. All other company and product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies/holders, and are hereby recognized.
CONTACT:
Metrowerks Inc.
Gordy Davies, 512/873-4797
[email protected]