Metrowerks to Support Windows CE 2.0 as an Authorized Microsoft Tools Provider; CodeWarrior for Windows CE on All Platforms
SAN JOSE, Calif. — September 30, 1997 — Metrowerks Inc. (NASDAQ: MTWKF; TSE/ME:MWK) announced this week at the Embedded Systems Conference West in San Jose that CodeWarrior for Windows CE will provide complete support for Windows CE 2.0 when it ships, which is expected to be the first quarter of calendar 1998.
The initial release will support Windows CE 2.0 running on PowerPC, x86, and MIPS microprocessors. Support for Windows CE 2.0 running on Advanced RISC Machines ARM and Hitachi SuperH microprocessors will be included in the second release scheduled for shipment next summer.
The tools will include support for both C/C++ and Java and will be hosted on Windows 95 and Windows NT. CodeWarrior for Windows CE 2.0 will provide seamless source-level two-machine debugging, which allows the developer to view the source code and debug on the host while it executes on the Windows CE device.
Simulation debugging, which allows the programmer to debug using a processor simulator resident in the IDE before transferring to the target processor, will also be supported. The Microsoft Windows CE 2.0 SDK and DDK libraries will be delivered as part of CodeWarrior for Windows CE. Each targeted microprocessor will have Metrowerks' highly optimizing compiler support specifically tuned for that particular architecture.
The agreement to support Windows CE 2.0 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.
"We're very pleased to be working closely with Microsoft on Windows CE 2.0 deployment," said Greg Galanos, president and chief technology officer, Metrowerks. "Programmers will now be able to easily create, from their Windows 95 and Windows NT platform, applications for any device that supports the Windows CE 2.0 operating system, all from one development environment, CodeWarrior."
"As the Windows CE platform gains momentum in the embedded systems arena, it becomes more and more critical that developers are provided the right kinds of tools to bring their products to market quickly and efficiently," said Harel Kodesh, general manager of the consumer appliance group at Microsoft. "We're very happy that Metrowerks has joined with us with its highly integrated and market proven CodeWarrior environment to help increase the Windows CE developer community."
About Windows CE Windows CE is Microsoft's compact and portable operating system built from the ground up to be appropriate for a broad range of business and consumer devices that can communicate with each other, share information with Windows-based PCs, and connect to the Internet. Categories of devices for which Windows CE is suitable include small form-factor mobile computing devices such as the new Handheld PCs, "wallet" PCs, wireless communications devices such as digital information pagers and cellular "smart" phones, next-generation entertainment and multimedia consoles, and purpose-built Internet access devices such as Internet TVs, digital set- top boxes and Internet "Web phones."
About Metrowerks Embedded Systems Products CodeWarrior solutions for the embedded systems market start with the CodeWarrior Integrated Development 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]