Overview

S32 Design Studio has a package based structure and is initially installed with the base packages that provide the minimum of libraries and tools.

Base packages

The S32 Design Studio Platform package provides the basic functionality of the product such as Eclipse bundles and integration mechanisms.
The S32 Design Studio Platform Tools package includes the basic libraries and tools required by all supported devices.
The NXP GCC for Arm Embedded Processors package includes the GNU tools.

With the basic installation, the user can launch S32 Design Studio , open all perspectives and views, create and configure workspaces, and open and build device-specific projects that were imported or created earlier. New projects for devices cannot be created, and the compiled code cannot be debugged.

Development packages

To support software design for a given family of devices in S32 Design Studio , you need to install the respective development package. Each new package brings its libraries, tools, SDKs, project examples, and documentation. Once the required package is installed to S32 Design Studio , you get the tools for creating application projects and library projects for the newly supported devices, and you gain the missing resources for debugging the device-specific code.

Extension and Add-On packages

To further extend support for the selected device, you can additionally install the extension or add-on package with the accelerator support. Each extension package brings its SDKs (or separate SDK package), compiler and assembler tools, or even visual programming tools for you to enhance your solution with code to be executed on the accelerator processor module.

S32DS Extensions and Updates tool

Installing packages and updates to S32 Design Studio is performed by means of the S32DS Extensions and Updates tool. This wizard communicates with the product's website and displays the most actual information about updates and packages available for installation. Additionally, the user is notified about the latest installation candidates with a pop-up box displayed on the desktop.

The user can pick the required updates and packages in the wizard and have them installed in S32 Design Studio with a couple of clicks. Besides, the wizard displays all installed packages and enables uninstalling of any selected package.

Plug-in products

In addition to device support, the functionality of S32 Design Studio can be extended with support for new debugging instruments such as hardware debugging interfaces and simulators. Integration of third-party products with S32 Design Studio is implemented through plug-ins.

Though the S32DS Extensions and Updates wizard can be configured for software lookup on any site, installation of plug-ins into S32 Design Studio using this tool is not supported. To install a plug-in, use the functionality provided by the Eclipse platform.