New Product Announcement, March 4, 1988 LMI TMS34010 Metacompiler Laboratory Microsystems Inc. announces a new version of the LMI Forth Metacompiler (cross-compiler) targeted to the Texas Instruments TMS34010 graphics processor. The LMI Metacompiler turns any IBM PC, PC/AT, or PS/2 compatible into an inexpensive development system for this powerful new CPU. The TMS34010 The Texas Instruments TMS34010 is a 32-bit microprocessor that offers: * machine level instructions for both linear and XY addressed line drawing, pixblt (pixel block transfer), region fills, clipping, and much more; * manipulation of up to 8096 x 8096 pixels with up to 16 bits per pixel; * up to 16 MB of display memory; * built-in cache; * 50 MHz performance, with faster processors planned -- the highest performance graphics microprocessor currently available. Unlike most other graphics processors, the TMS34010 is a full- fledged general-purpose CPU and can serve as the heart of a complete computer system. The LMI Metacompiler The LMI Forth Metacompiler is a professional application development tool. It compiles Forth source code into a stand- alone ROMable or disk-based application. The new application may be any turnkey application, including a new interactive Forth interpreter/compiler. The term metacompiler describes a special Forth compiler which: * is written in Forth; * accepts Forth source code and/or assembly language statements as input; * produces an executable image as output; * can produce a new interpreter/compiler, and (to some extent) emulate the actions of the target's compiler during cross-compilation --- in other words, a compiler- compiler. The designations host and target distinguish between the system that the Metacompiler runs on and the system that its output runs on. The host system is the computer that actually performs the metacompilation. The source code for the target application resides in a disk file on the host system. This source code is converted by the Metacompiler into an executable target image, which also resides in a disk file on the host system. The target system is the computer that runs the object code produced by the Metacompiler. The object image file produced by the Metacompiler must be transferred from the host system to the target system to be executed. This is done, for instance, by copying the image into EPROM, by moving the disk containing the object image file to the target (if it has its own disk drives), or, in the case where a TMS34010 development board is resident on the host, by using a loader program. The LMI Metacompiler has the following features: * multi-pass, table-driven compilation; * excellent error handling; * creates ROMable or disk based applications; * supports local labels and conditional compilation directives; * allows definition and invocation of new defining words and immediate words in the target code; * optional generation of headerless code; * optional compilation from intermediate states; * built-in TMS34010 cross-assembler, using standard TI mnemonics; * compatible with the Forth-83 Standard; * detailed 200 page manual -- written in plain English; * no royalty or resale licensing fee for "well-behaved" target applications; The LMI Metacompiler for the TMS34010 has a number of enhancements to ease programming. The foremost of these is that both the high level language and the cross assembler take byte addresses, translating them into bit addresses (which are required by the TMS34010) internally. Bit addresses may also be specified explicitly when necessary. Included with the LMI TMS34010 Metacompiler is a loader program which uploads a compiled image into the RAM on a TMS34010 development board. The loader can also act as a communications program between the PC and the development board, allowing interactive development and debugging on the target CPU. In fact, source code can be loaded and compiled by the target from a file on the PC host. Hardware Requirements The LMI Metacompiler requires an IBM PC, PC/AT, PS/2, or compatible with at least 320 KB of RAM and MS-DOS or PC-DOS version 2.0 or later. The Metacompiler, associated tools, and the source files for the TMS34010 Forth target system occupy approximately 400 KB of disk space; thus, a fixed disk is recommended. TMS34010 development boards are available from Texas Instruments through your local TI distributer. None of the TI programming tools are necessary, however, since the LMI Metacompiler and loader program constitute a complete, self-contained development environment. Metacompiler Availability The LMI Forth Metacompiler for the TMS34010 is available immediately from stock for $1000.00. The Metacompiler is supplied on two 5.25" double-sided double-density diskettes or one 3.5" microdisk in IBM PC-DOS or MS-DOS format. Versions of the LMI Metacompiler are also available for the following CPU targets: 8080/85, Z-80, HD64180, 80x86/87, 680x0, 8051/31, 80535, 8096/97, 6303, Z-8, 1802, 6502, 65816, and 6809. Laboratory Microsystems, Inc. 3007 Washington Blvd, Suite 230 P.O. Box 10430 Marina del Rey, CA 90295 (213) 306-7412 In Europe, contact: Forth-Systeme Angelika Flesch P. O. Box 1103 D-7814 Breisach West Germany (49) 7667-551