New KDS_IDE: Kinetis Design Studio

[mjbcswitzerland]

Hi All

I am wondering about the new KDS IDE V1.0 which is available for trials. This is Eclipse based and includes PE, so is similar to CodeWarrior.

What is the idea behind another IDE for Kinetis development?

Regards

Mark

[BlackNight · Accepted solution]

Hi Mark,

there are multiple aspects: CodeWarrior supports a wide range of devices (RS08, S08, ColdFire, ColdFire+, S12Z and Kinetis), while KDS is only for Kinetis: as such, it can be leaner and smaller. The other aspect is: while CodeWarrior is a sold/licensed product, KDS is complimentary, free and unlimited. Yes, it is Eclipse based and has Processor Expert intergrated, so if you know Eclipse/CodeWarrior, things are very similar. Both CodeWarrior (for Kinetis) and KDS use GNU (gcc) as compiler. The biggest difference is the debugger: CodeWarrior uses a proprietary debugger engine, while KDS is using GDB. Like CodeWarrior, it supports P&E and Segger connections, but KDS adds the open source OpenOCD/CMSIS-DAP to the mix. The good news for anyone else using something different than Windows: KDS 1.0beta covers now Windows and Linux, with Mac OS X to follow later this year.

The idea behind it: KDS is free and unlimited, and based on open source tools. With Eclipse + GNU gcc + GNU GDB + OpenOCD/CMSIS-DAP it gives end-to-end open source tools, on the most commen host operating systems, supports for widely used run control solutions (P&E and Segger) and has Processor Expert integrated.

More information: http://www.freescale.com/kds

Regards,

Erich

[iaingalloway]

I've heard a lot of people asking about this, and talked to people at FTF 2014 in Dallas about it.

The most common misquote or rumor is "Freescale is killing Codewarrior".  Not true!

The reality is that KDS (Kinetis Development Studio) is a fantastic move.

What i am most excited about is that it will includes TAD (Task Aware Debugging) for MQX, this means ANYONE can now try out MQX on Kinetis on any project they want without restriction. Where else can you get a commercial quality USB and Ethernet Stack for free?!!

KDS PROs:

• Free of charge
• Eclipse based
• Uses GCC
• Task aware debugging
  • RTOS support for MQX, FreeRTOS and maybe more?
• Supports Kinetis devices K, E, L V, and EA .. and presumably all future versions
• Seems to be more "open" and cross platform. (Linux based development is supported now!)
• Seems to include all the wizards and PEx (Processor Expert ) from Codewarrior.

Misconceptions:

• Codewarrior is NOT going away.
  • For all other families: DSC, Power, Layerscape, Coldfire, HCS12 etc... there is continuing Codewarrior versions
  • Kinetis support, all new devices move to KDS. Only for Kinetis does the Current CW version freeze -  and it will be maintained.

Can't wait to try it out. There is a first version download now soon available on the download link from this page:

(AsBlackNight pointed out that at today its pre-register.)

KDS_IDE: Kinetis Design Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

[BlackNight]

FTF hands-on-lab participants received a pre beta version of the tool, and we gathered feedback which gets now integrated for the beta launch. Users can pre-register for the beta download at KDS_IDE: Kinetis Design Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and the download is expected to be available end of this month.

Erich