Perspective™ Product Overview

Description

PERSPECTIVE is a Programming Support Environment developed by EDS, formerly Systems Designers Limited, for PASCAL-based software systems. PERSPECTIVE provides support for all stages of the software development process from initial design to in-service maintenance.

In particular, PERSPECTIVE is designed to meet the demands of management in controlling project teams, and provide specialist support for developing and maintaining real-time software for embedded microcomputer systems.

The PERSPECTIVE system is appropriate for developers of medium to large systems. It is hosted on any OpenVMS configuration. PERSPECTIVE performs editing, compilation and system building functions.

Applications software can be downline loaded to the target hardware (such as a single board micro-computer) through a simple communication line and tested by using the PERSPECTIVE host system to inspect, control and debug the target system. This approach combines the advantages of a friendly and familiar environment of the host computer, with the ability to test application software on the actual target hardware.

The PERSPECTIVE system is intended to be used by a project team during the development and maintenance of a software system. The sources of all software components are held on the host machine in a database specially created and maintained by PERSPECTIVE. A simple command language allows access to the database and source items in a disciplined manner.

Sources can be shared between projects and/or applications with all uses of each item being recorded in the database. Multiple versions of a given source item can be held and the build configuration of any applications system or component can be obtained by a simple database query.

In summary, PERSPECTIVE provides the methodology and the tools to ensure an effective solution to the problems of embedded system software development.

PERSPECTIVE Features

PERSPECTIVE provides a unique solution to the problems of developing and maintaining embedded software. The main features are:

· A methodology to handle the design of complex software and to provide a safe execution environment for sequential programs in a concurrent system.

· A hosted development toolkit which supports program development and can be extended to cover the full life cycle of a product.

· Support for an extended version of ISO/BSI PASCAL.

· Based on a modular programming approach.

· Assembly language support.

· Source units controlled in a structured PERSPECTIVE database.

· Support for parallel programming, process scheduling and synchronisation.

· Consistent user interface via PERSPECTIVE session commands and query facilities.

· Interpretive and Target debugging facilities.

· Freezing of components or systems.

· Controlled interaction between database user domains.

· Extraction of source items from database to VMS directory on host system.

· Standard run-time package (the Environment) which can be tailored by the user to meet specific project requirements.

· MASCOT Kernel provides an implementation of the MASCOT design methodology.

· PROM Formatter produces Intel or Tekhex output suitable for use with a PROM Programmer or ICE box.

· All PERSPECTIVE products are tested using the Pascal Validation Suite issued by the National Physical Laboratory in accordance with BSI.

Software

Central to the product set is the Base PERSPECTIVE product, which provides the full set of standalone facilities on the OpenVMS host machine.

A number of PERSPECTIVE Target products can be added and integrated with the Base product. These include support for the following microprocessors:

· Intel 8086/80186

· Motorola M68000/M68020

· Zilog Z8001/Z8002

The Base product is bundled with the PERSPECTIVE MASCOT Kernel.

The target products Intel 8086 PERSPECTIVE and M68000 PERSPECTIVE are bundled with PERSPECTIVE ICE Support for a Tektronix 8540 In Circuit Emulator. This product provides extra facilities for assembler level debugging and interface to the T8540.

Documentation

All PERSPECTIVE products are supplied with a full and comprehensive set of documentation.

Additionally, if you enter into a maintenance agreement with EDS, we will supply you with a Technical Bulletin containing relevant product news and information on an annual basis.

Hardware Requirements

Any Compaq OpenVMS configuration; this includes both VAX and ALPHA machines.

Disk Space Requirements

These counts refer to the disk space required by the PERSPECTIVE product software, environment and user confidence test as supplied to the customer.

· The system software for Base PERSPECTIVE requires about 10K disk blocks.

· The system software for each PERSPECTIVE target requires about 1.5K disk blocks.

· The space required for the database is application dependent but a minimum allowance of 10Mbytes per database is recommended.

Software Requirements

Prerequisite software: OpenVMS Operating System

6.2 or higher.

Distribution Media

CD-ROM.

Warranty

The terms and conditions of supply and warranty are as described in the PERSPECTIVE Licence agreement, normally 90 days.

Support

EDS continues to meet the requirements of customers by providing an excellent product support service.

Four levels of maintenance: Standard, Reserved, Special and Project exist for the PERSPECTIVE product family. The standard service includes a telephone help line, for problem reporting and response service, and re-release, as necessary, of the product to maintain its compatibility with upgrades to the host manufacturer’s operating system.

Software Licensing

The software is furnished under the provisions of a software licence.

Licences for education institutions are available.

The above information is valid at the time of going to release. If you would like further details on any of the above information please contact the Software Products Sales Office at the address below.