CrossWorks for ARM vs CS+

CrossWorks for ARM is a C/C++ and assembly development system for ARM and Cortex microcontrollers. Its CrossStudio IDE brings editing, building, downloading and SWD/JTAG debugging into one environment. The package includes GNU GCC and Clang/LLVM toolchains, and its multi-core debugger also works with applications built using external toolchains. Supported cores range from Cortex-M, Cortex-A and Cortex-R to ARM7, ARM9, ARM11, Feroceon and XScale. Supported connections include CrossConnect Neo, SEGGER J-Link, CMSIS-DAP, ST-LINK and FTDI-based JTAG devices. It also includes an embedded C runtime library that is neither GPL nor LGPL, and a royalty-free tasking library for pre-emptive task switching and synchronization. Downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux include x64 and ARM64 or Apple Silicon builds. The evaluation can remain active with a 16KB code-size limit or be unlocked for 30 days. A Named Developer License is $2,500 as a one-time purchase; a Shared Developer License is $3,750 as a one-time purchase. Both include commercial use, 12 months of support and 12 months of software assurance.

CS+ is Renesas’s integrated development environment for creating software for Renesas microcontrollers. The free IDE is available for development and production, while evaluation compiler packages may impose limits. CS+ for CC targets the RL78, RH850, and RX families; CS+ for CA,CX targets RL78, 78K, and V850. Its installer includes compiler packages for target products, and compatible Renesas emulators provide debugging functions. The graphical interface can generate C device-driver programs for MCU peripherals, although generation is unavailable for some MCUs. Modified or saved source files build automatically in the background, and action events can show variable values at a specified address. Smart Browser for CS+ for CC presents device information, hardware manual content, sample code, and related FAQs. CS+ can interoperate with Smart Configurator for RX, and Renesas offers a co-simulation tool linking it with MATLAB and Simulink. Current listed versions run on Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11; 32-bit use requires CS+ IDE V8.06 or earlier. Debugging emulators are sold separately.