The Leader in Configurable Processor Technology

Software & Tools

ARC® Software and Tools

Proven, Professional Tools and Software that Accelerate and Simplify Development of ARC-Based™ SoCs


ARC enables software development teams to quickly deploy highly differentiated SoC designs using a wide range of software solutions, including: configuration tools, software and hardware co-design and co-verification tools, software development tools, and run-time software.

Content On This Page
| ARC Software Roadmap | ARChitect™ Processor Configurator | ARC Modelling Software |
| Software Development Tools | MQX Run-time Software Products | ARC Open Source Projects |


ARC® Software Roadmap



This roadmap is provided for review purposes only. It does not imply any commitment by ARC International concerning availability of future products.

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ARChitect™ Processor Configurator

Patented, GUI-Based Configurator for ARC Processors, Subsystems, Tools and Software


This revolutionary configuration tool uses patented technology to unlock the power of ARCfs configurable technology. Using ARChitect's GUI-based development environment, designers use drag-and-drop menus to optimize their processor to a specific application's requirements, and/or create custom instruction extensions. In minutes, ARChitect generates a highly differentiated, proprietary ARC-Based™ processor or subsystem that consumes less power and has fewer transistor gates than can be created using a gfixed architectureh alternative, and tunes the software development tools, simulators, and CAD workflows accordingly.
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ARC Modelling Software

Advanced, Compatible Processor and Peripheral Modelling Solutions Enable Architectural Exploration, Software Development and Complete SoC System Verification During Every Phase of an ARC-Based™ Project.


Fast, accurate modelling products for ARC processors run the gamut from cycle-accurate simulations for co-development and co-verification to fast Instruction Set Simulation (ISS) alternatives for architectural exploration, developing software and verifying complete SoCs without requiring actual target hardware.

ARC xCAM automatically generates 100% cycle-accurate models of a uniquely configured ARC processor within minutes. ARC xISS and xISS Turbo instruction set simulators provide up to 200+ MIPS platforms for early software development work. ARC CAS is a cycle-accurate model that works with the MetaWare Debugger to provide cycle counts while running ARC 600 or ARC 700 code so an SoC designer can confirm performance early in the SoC development process. The ARC ISS simulates the ARC 600 and ARC 700 family processors, and is included with the MetaWare Debugger. MetaSim is a high-performance means of linking an ARC simulation to co-simulate with RTL-based simulations of other hardware IP such as peripherals an SoC designer intends to place along with an ARC processor. ARC simulation products work with ARChitect so that simulations track processor configuration updates.

ARC® VTOC® products use the technology behind the ARC xCAM modeller to automatically provide 100% cycle accurate C++ and SystemC models of customers’ ARC and/or non-ARC IP written in Verilog or VHDL. Since the models are pure software and can be compiled to binary, they also are ideal for secure shipment of IP models to third parties.
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Software Development Tools

Over 100 Developer Years of MetaWare Expertise Deliver Professional Quality Software Development Tools Optimized for ARC® Processors.


The MetaWare Compiler delivers outstanding code density and great performance with 9 levels of global optimizations. The MetaWare Debugger is the most advanced, extensible multi-core debugger available for configurable processors. The MetaWare IDE, powered by Eclipse 3.2, supports the state of the art in open, standard integrated development environments. Taken together, these components of the MetaWare Development Toolkit offer an outstanding platform for ARC-Based software development.
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MQX Run-time Software Products

The MQX Family of Run-Time Products Offers a Wealth of Software to Leverage While Building Unique, Resource-Efficient Products around an ARC processor.


The MQX RTOS is the smallest footprint, highest performance, easiest-to-use RTOS for configurable processors. MQX RTCS is the smallest MQX-compatible networking protocol stack, offering IPv4 connectivity in a tightly coded stack. MQX MFS is the smallest MQX-compatible Windows FAT file system, and MQX PEG provides small, powerful graphical user interface libraries for building a great GUI into ARC-Based products
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ARC Open Source Software

Industry-Standard Linux, µClinux and GNU tools Optimized for ARC Processors Give Open Source Developers Easy Access to Familiar Software and Tools.


ARC provides access to verified Linux 2.4 and Linux 2.6 distributions for the configurable ARC 750D processor, licensed under GPL. In addition, ports of µClinux are available for configurable ARC 600 processors and ARC 700 processors configured without an MMU. ARC GNU tools, including ARC optimized version of GCC and GDB, are available for ARC 600 and ARC 700 cores. ARC GNU tools provide great performance on ARC processors and all of the benefits of using open source GNU tools.

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Learn more about ARC Linux >>

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