In today’s times devices are becoming intelligent and automatic. The digital camera, mobile phones, washing machines, audio systems, aircraft are a few examples. Users have to input the settings, and these devices then work on their own - adjusting to the circumstances. For instance by programming the digital camera; it uses the flash if required, automatically sets up the clicking and shutter speed, brightness et al.
The self-thinking capability of these devices is due to the embedded systems — combinations of hardware and software mounted on compact electronic circuit boards integrated into the devices. Developers have to rectify the errors to make the hardware talk to the software without any hitch. For debugging of the software and hardware by developers; multicore technology delivers significant advantages by providing higher processor performance, more effective power usage, and a smaller physical footprint for embedded devices.
Multicore solutions are often implemented in tandem with multiprocessing in which multiple processors are used on a single-board or in an integrated system. To utilize the full power of multi-core and multiprocessing solutions it takes more than just silicon; it takes a new approach to the compile-edit-debug process.

On-chip debugging tool
Keeping these views at the forefront, Wind River Systems, a global player in Device Software Optimization (DSO), has made enhancements to their on-chip debugging edition tool, a comprehensive device software development toolset for mitigating the complexities of on-chip debugging (OCD). The upgraded Wind River Workbench, OCD edition, makes available a development toolset that makes working with Linux user applications easier and will offer multicore device developers a more fully supported, standards-based development environment.
With the upgraded toolset for on-chip debugging, customers can get a set of Eclipse-based development tools that allows them to harness the full advantages of the current hardware innovations, including multicore and multiprocessing technologies," explains Sandy Orlando, VP and GM, Wind River On-Chip Debugging. The tool was designed keeping in mind the difficulties device developers face while debugging 32-bit and 64-bit device projects, she adds.

Tool advantages
The debugging solution can start and stop multiple cores simultaneously. This tool can centralise the multi-core and multi-processing debug function. This solution can manage 128 cores, with the capability to debug 8 of them simultaneously. This provides the added scalability and performance.
The developer set breakpoints on one or more cores, including conditional breakpoints. Also the tool uses the Eclipse framework and agent-based debugging enabling developers to manage the multi-core/multiprocessor projects from a single console; that means visualising multiple cores through a single GUI. Also it supports multiple processors and operating systems.
“The support for multiple cores is much more than the current requirement in the industry,” says Ms Orlando.
Also customers will be able to share a single Integrated Development Enterprise (IDE) across networks of multiple developers on a broad range of new multicore processors.
From the prespective of a developer: Yoganand, a developer at Cybersites feels, “The product supports multicore and multiprocessing technologies that help to deal with complex processors.
This gives more control to developers. The added advantage is that one can decipher errors quickly, reducing the time-to-market.”
Venkatesh Kumaran, Country Manager-India, Wind River informs, “The APAC region market share consists of about 20 to 22 per cent, which is our No 2 market and the fastest growing region.” As for the space that Wind River operates in, most of its revenues come from network infrastructure — upto 33 per cent.
Aerospace and defence includes nearly 25-26 per cent of the revenues.
A small segment of their revenues comes from the Industrial control, automotive and infotainment.
As a player in the integrated, embedded software solutions space, the customer base of the company comprises of global giants — NASA JPL, HP, Siemens VDO, Sony, and Honda.