According to Virtutech (San Jose), the simulation model enables the development of software for MPC8641D processor-based systems before the silicon is available, enabling systems to be ready for immediate shipment once production volumes are available.

Developing code for a multicore processor introduces new levels of complexity associated with the inherent parallelism and locking requirements. But Virtutech claims its Simics technology can simulate multicore processors such as the MPC8641D and provide a clean platform for development. Since Simics runs unchanged production binaries, it is fully deterministic and is more controllable than the real chip, Virtutech said. Simics Hindsight enables reverse execution and debugging of a multi-threaded program on both cores simultaneously, the company said.

"One challenge in bringing a new semiconductor product to market is to enable customers and partners to develop software before silicon is available," said Toby Foster, dual-core system architect for Freescale's digital systems division, in a statement. "Simulation offers an effective way to fill this gap."

Freescale Semiconductor's MPC8641D processor is billed as a dual-core, high-performance processor for embedded networking, telecom, military, storage and pervasive computing applications.

"Multicore debugging is an enormous new challenge for software developers, as our server customers discovered in the last few years, and will be especially difficult for embedded software developers," said Peter Magnusson, Virtutech founder and chief technology officer. "Simulation brings not only the capability to run code before silicon exists but also has many compelling advantages once it is available since it is so much more observable and controllable."