Rust compiler for Infineon Aurix microcontrollers
Software tool vendor HighTec EDV-Systeme GmbH (Saarbrücken, Germany) expands its compiler support for Aurix microcontrollers from Infineon: In addition to its proven LLVM open-source based C/C++ compiler tools, the company now introduces the first Rust compiler for the 32-bit Aurix multicore architecture.
With this offering, customers from the automotive and industrial sectors can take advantage of the security and safety benefits of both the Aurix multicore architecture and HighTec’s modern LLVM-based Rust compiler.
Recently, the programming language Rust has seen significant growth in popularity, driven by the increasing need for safe and secure systems. Rust’s memory management features, such as its ownership model, help prevent the types of vulnerabilities that are often the root cause of system failures and security breaches. This makes Rust an attractive option for developers looking to build safe, secure, and robust systems.
Infineon’s Aurix microcontroller family has become a widely adopted solution for smart mobility applications with stringent safety and security requirements. The combination of the robust safety and security features of the Rust programming language with the ASIL D/SIL 3 certified Aurix TC3x and TC4x microcontrollers provides a dependable and resilient platform for these critical applications.
HighTec claims to be the only compiler provider to be an “Infineon Preferred Design House”. Its new Rust compiler for Aurix TC3x and TC4x leverages the modern open-source LLVM technology, boasting an efficient backend that is consistent with the existing C/C++ compiler tools for Aurix. This compiler is characterized by its rapid build system and advanced code optimizations, which are specifically tailored to the architecture-specific functions of the Aurix microcontrollers. As a result, HighTec is able to accelerate the development and certification of safety-critical applications across a range of industries, including automotive and industrial automation. The HighTec C/C++ Development Platform is widely used by automotive manufacturers and Tier One suppliers. By 2024, HighTec plans to offer a safety qualified Aurix Rust compiler.
HighTec’s initial Aurix Rust package includes the Rust compiler tools including cargo build system, Rust libraries, hardware abstraction, and BSP (Board Support Package) for TC375, integrated examples including the usage of C based peripheral drivers and a documentation including “Getting started” instructions. The examples have been designed in cooperation with ELEXIR. For Rust HLL (High Level Language) debugging, developers can use the Lauterbach TRACE32 debugger.
