Author: JT Smith
Aphelion is a comprehensive IDE for developing high-performance embedded Java and Java/C/C++ applications with deployment on Sun?s Connected Device Configuration (CDC) and Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) Java2 Micro Edition (J2ME) Virtual Machines. Developed for embedded systems, Aphelion removes the obstacles hindering the use of Java for embedded systems such as: large run-time footprint, slow run-time execution, and non-deterministic behavior of Java applications when running on Virtual Machines. At the same time, Aphelion preserves and enhances the strengths that have contributed to Java Platform?s remarkable success on desktops and servers, such as the “write once and run everywhere” paradigm. The result is an extensive IDE that offers features not available in other Java IDEs.
“This agreement leverages the benefits of Sun?s Java technology, Aphelion?s advanced IDE capabilities and LynuxWorks? operating systems to provide our customers with best-of-breed technologies for our customers developing embedded products,” said Bob Morris, vice president of marketing for LynuxWorks. “Java is being deployed in communications, office automation and consumer appliance markets where developers require the ability to rapidly add new features and evolve their products. By continuously seeking out extensible platforms and technologies for the markets we serve, we are better able to serve our customer needs with complete developer solutions as requirements continue to change.”
“Aphelion and its ports of Sun?s Virtual Machines to embedded processors running LynxOS and BlueCat Linux offer a winning combination to LynuxWorks customers that want to enter a fast growing market for Java-powered embedded devices,” said George Malek, chairman and CEO of Apogee. “Apogee is excited about the opportunity to work with LynuxWorks on making the embedded systems running LynxOS and BlueCat Linux the platforms of choice for deployment of many kinds of Java applications.”
The Apogee x86/LynxOS port of Sun?s CDC J2ME Virtual Machine and Foundation Profile was certified by Sun as CDC J2ME Platform compliant. This is the first and, thus far, the only compliance certification awarded by Sun for a port of CDC J2ME Virtual Machine and Foundation Profile. This certified port is being deployed by VeriFone, Inc., a worldwide leader in electronic payment solutions and a major provider of point-of-sale terminals, in its new line of “Java-powered” Sapphire? site controllers, thus making the port the first production deployment of the certified CDC J2ME VM and FP in the industry.
“The Apogee CDC J2ME VM gives our development effort several important advantages,” said Brad McGuinness, director of engineering at VeriFone Inc.’s petroleum division. “First, because it’s scalable for different applications, it allows us to take greater advantage of the “write once and run anywhere” characteristic of Java across a greater potential range of embedded platforms. Second, because Aphelion supports space-optimization and ahead-of-time compiling of bytecodes, we have greater assurance that applications targeted for a given platform will perform as required. Finally, because CDC J2ME tracks more closely to Sun’s Java roadmap, our applications can take greater advantage of innovations from Sun, third-party vendors, and the Open Source community. We can now deliver better engineered software products to our customers faster, and those products will be more resistant to platform churn.”
About Apogee
Founded in 1988, privately held Apogee Software, Inc. specializes in the development of high-quality programming tools for developing Java, C and C++ applications for embedded systems, and C, C++ and FORTRAN applications for SPARC desktops and servers. Apogee is located in Campbell California. For more information, please visit www.apogee.com.
About LynuxWorks
LynuxWorks is a world leader in the embedded software market, providing operating systems, software development products and consulting services for the world’s most successful communications, aerospace/defense, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a founding member of the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a leading participant in the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks’ headquarters are located in San Jose, California. The company?s products include the open-source BlueCat Linux and the scalable, Linux-compatible LynxOS real-time operating system. World class companies use LynuxWorks’ products, including: 3Com, Alcatel, Boeing, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC USA, Raytheon, TRW and Xerox. For more information, please visit www.lynuxworks.com.
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Java and other Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Aphelion is a trademark of Apogee Software, Inc. LynxOS is a registered trademark and BlueCat is a trademark of LynuxWorks, Inc. VeriFone and Sapphire are registered trademarks of VeriFone, Inc All other brand names and trademarks mentioned in this document are the properties of their respective holders.
Technical Brief
Apogee Aphelion
Designed specifically for developing Java and Java/C/C++ applications targeted at embedded systems, Aphelion features advanced tools which, together with the performance-enhanced ports of Sun’s J2ME Virtual Machines and API profiles, achieve outstanding run-time performance not only on various benchmarks but, more importantly, on “real life” applications.
For example, Aphelion includes the ahead-of-time space optimizer that can create compact bytecode zip files or ROMable images of deployment-ready applications. And, to accelerate the run-time execution of such applications, Aphelion offers the ahead-of-time and dynamic optimizers of run-time speed, capable of compiling performance critical bytecode methods of deployment-ready applications into optimized binary JNMs (“Java Native Methods”), each directly executable (after invoked by Apogee’s VM through a special fast interface) on a given target processor up to 50 times faster than the original bytecode method would execute on a VM.
Aphelion also includes the Java/C/C++ project manager, syntax-driven Java/C/C++ editor, source code class browser, Java-to-bytecode optimizing compiler, C/C++-to-CNM optimizing compilers (CNM: C/C++ Native Method), and the unique bytecode/JNM/CNM debuggers, each capable of remotely debugging bytecode methods executing on a VM and native methods (JNMs and CNMs) invoked by such bytecode methods while executing on the underlying processor. And, each of these tools is graphically invoked and controlled by a powerful GUI with a look-and-feel of Microsoft’s Visual Studio.
Aphelion is offered in cross-development configurations (XDCs) hosted on x86/WinNT and x86/Win2k development platforms and targeted at x86 and PowerPC processors running LynxOS. More XDCs are being completed, including the XDCs targeted at x86, PowerPC, StrongARM and XScale processors running BlueCat Linux. Each XDC comes with a port of CDC J2ME VM and API profiles, which have been enhanced by Apogee for high performance when running bytecode class files optimized with Aphelion optimizers. The ports of CLDC VM will be available for selected XDCs in the near future.
Aphelion is also available in a “desktop” configuration hosted on and targeted at x86/WinNT and x86/Win2k development platforms. Comprised of the same tools as each XDC and of the WinNT/Win2K port of CDC J2ME VM and API profiles, the desktop configuration is used when a customer needs to start developing its applications prior to deciding on the type of embedded processors for production deployment of such applications. Then, after the customer decides on the suitable processor/LynxOS or processor/BlueCat target platform, Apogee will provide for this platform a fully compatible XDC and a port of CDC or CLDC J2ME VM and API profiles.
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