New C++ support product launched

York, UK, 24th September 2010 Rapita Systems have released the latest version of the RapiTime measurement and analysis tool. Quickly dubbed a “must-have” by the on-target timing verification specialists, RapiTime 2.4 is for engineers and managers responsible for timing analysis of critical real-time C++ embedded systems. The new product launch comes against a background of growing C++ use, a trend illustrated by the choice of C++ as the preferred programming language for the new Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) or F-35. Due to go into service by 2014, the JSF will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 Thunderbolt II. The new fighter airplane is expected to represent a gigantic leap forward in the development of advanced avionics communications and flight systems. One of the biggest challenges of using C++ in complex safety-critical real-time embedded systems such as fighter airplanes is that it may not relate to the target code as closely as C. Manually measuring the timing performance of individual parts of the code may therefore become much harder than before unless you take the automated RapiTime approach. The capacity to quickly identify the source of timing problems and carry out targeted optimization work means RapiTime 2.4 with C++ support helps engineers and managers overcome this challenge. Speaking on the eve of the launch, Product Development Director Dr Antoine Colin says RapiTime 2.4 “gives developers using C++ a previously unavailable ability to pinpoint performance problems, and to identify exactly where optimization efforts should be focused”. “This new functionality promises to make RapiTime v2.4 a must-have product for engineers and managers”, added Colin. Features which support execution time measurement, worst-case execution time analysis, debugging support and performance optimization are still included in the new version. RapiTime support is also still available for C and Ada users. “That won’t change for the foreseeable future”, added Colin, “we just wanted to acknowledge that as the world gradually moves on, as shown by the choice of C++ for the JSF and other large critical real-time embedded systems, so must timing analysis.”