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Tools and features

Embedded development tools

The basics

What is embedded development?

Imagine designing a connected IoT device, an autonomous vehicle system, or a life-saving medical device. The complexity of embedded systems demands precision, efficiency, and reliability—requiring engineers to navigate hardware constraints, real-time performance needs, and compliance standards while keeping up with market demands.

This is where embedded development tools become indispensable. From code compilation to debugging, optimization, and automated builds, these tools help engineers accelerate development, reduce errors, and ensure software reliability.

Among these, IAR Embedded Workbench stands out as a comprehensive solution, integrating a compiler, linker, debugger, and runtime analysis tools within a single interface.

Embedded engineers need more than just an integrated development environment (IDE)—they require debug probes, CI/CD-ready build tools, static and runtime analysis, command-line interfaces, and flexible workflows that adapt to both local and cloud-based development environments.

What are embedded development tools?

Embedded development tools are software and hardware solutions designed to simplify, optimize, and automate embedded system development. They enable engineers to write, compile, test, debug, and optimize firmware running on microcontrollers (MCUs) and processors.

Why are embedded tools essential?
  • Code compilation & linking – translating high-level code into machine instructions efficiently
  • Debugging & runtime analysis – identifying memory leaks, crashes, and real-time issues
  • Command-line and automation support – enabling build automation with tools like CMake, Makefiles, and CI/CD pipelines
  • Hardware debugging & monitoring – using JTAG, SWD, and debug probes for real-time execution analysis
  • Security & compliance – ensuring compliance with functional safety (ISO 26262, IEC 61508), cybersecurity (IEC 62443), and coding standards (MISRA C, CERT C)

A leading example is IAR Embedded Workbench, which integrates an optimizing compiler, linker, debugger, runtime analysis, and command-line build tools, offering a seamless development experience across multiple architectures.

How to choose the best embedded development tools?

Selecting the right tools ensures efficiency, compatibility, and scalability.

Key factors include:

  • Ease of use & productivity

A toolchain should provide intuitive development workflows with integrated debugging, static analysis, and automated testing.

  • Compatibility with hardware

Support for multiple MCUs and architectures (Arm, RISC-V, MSP430, AVR, Renesas RL78) is crucial. IAR Embedded Workbench supports a broad range of architectures, ensuring developers have flexibility in their projects.

  • Debugging & optimization

Real-time debugging, trace analysis, and runtime profiling are essential for reliability.

  • Scalability & CI/CD integration

Tools should support command-line builds (CLI), CMake, and integration with CI/CD platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Jenkins for automated testing.

  • Security & compliance

Coding standards (MISRA, CERT C), security frameworks (IEC 62443), and functional safety (ISO 26262, IEC 61508) should be built-in.

Which embedded development tools should you know about?

Category

Examples

IDEs

IAR Embedded Workbench, Keil, Eclipse

Compilers & linkers

IAR C/C++ Compiler, GCC, LLVM

Debuggers & probes

JTAG, GDB, IAR C-SPY Debugger, I-jet

IoT kits

Raspberry Pi, STM32 discovery kits, ST Nucleo boards

RTOS tools

FreeRTOS, ThreadX, PX5 RTOS, Zephyr RTOS
What are the advantages of using embedded development tools?
  • Efficiency – automate builds, debugging, and deployment with CLI tools
  • Cost-savings – reduce debugging time and prevent costly errors
  • Reliability – ensure functional safety and compliance with analysis tools
  • Security – detect vulnerabilities and prevent cyber threats

IAR Embedded Workbench
combines all these benefits, streamlining embedded workflows from development to production.

What are the common pitfalls when selecting embedded tools?

Choosing the wrong tools can lead to inefficiencies and costly mistakes. Here’s a quick checklist to help avoid common pitfalls:

Common mistakes

Avoidance checklist

Limited architecture support

Select tools with broad compatibility (Arm, RISC-V, etc.)

Weak debugging features

Ensure real-time debugging, profiling, and trace analysis support

No CI/CD integration

Choose tools with CLI, CMake, and pipeline support

Overlooking compliance needs

Use tools that support MISRA C/C++, ISO 26262, IEC 61508
What is IoT development kits?

These kits simplify IoT firmware and hardware integration, allowing developers to prototype and deploy IoT applications.

  • Examples: Raspberry Pi, STM32 discovery kits, ST Nucleo boards
What are Firmware development tools?

Firmware tools help engineers write, test, and optimize code for low-power and high-performance embedded devices.

What are Real-time operating system (RTOS) tools?

RTOS solutions manage real-time tasks, ensuring predictable system behavior in time-sensitive applications.

  • Examples: FreeRTOS, ThreadX, PX5 RTOS, Zephyr RTOS
What’s ahead for embedded development tools?

The next wave of embedded tools will focus on:

  • Cloud-native development – enabling remote debugging and cloud CI/CD automation
  • Low-power profiling tools – optimizing energy efficiency in battery-powered IoT devices
  • Open-source collaboration – expanding community-driven tools for cross-platform development

IAR continues to lead innovation in embedded tools, adapting to these trends while ensuring performance, security, and efficiency.

Tools and features in embedded development

The most common tools to succeed with embedded development projects are part of IAR platform. Learn more about how the features support the projects and the development teams.

Feature part of IAR platform

Compiler

The compiler translates C/C++ code into optimized machine instructions.

  • Examples: IAR C/C++ Compiler, GCC, LLVM, Clang, CMake, Ninja

The compiler is part of the IDE, IAR Embedded Workbench.

Tool

Linker

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Tool

Debugger and Debug Probes

These tools analyze system behavior, identify errors, and help optimize real-time performance.

  • Examples: JTAG, GDB, IAR C-SPY Debugger, I-jet debug probe

Tool

Static analysis

Static analysis checks code for vulnerabilities, while runtime analysis identifies memory leaks, buffer overflows, and execution bottlenecks.

Tool

Integrated development environment (IDE)

IDEs provide a unified workspace for writing, compiling, debugging, and managing embedded projects.

  • Examples: IAR Embedded Workbench, Keil, Eclipse

Tool

Build and automation

Build tools ensure automation and command-line execution (CLI) support.

Tool

Security and safety

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Tool

Simulators and emulators

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Tool

Testing and validation

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Watch how the tools and features works in IAR platform

Learn how the IAR's embedded platform supports DevOps integration, built-in functional safety and embedded security, flexible licensing, multi-architecture development, and faster, repeatable builds even years after release.

Why IAR platform helps you to be more efficient with your embedded developement projects

Scale development operations with freedom and flexibility, accelerate innovation with code confidence, and simplify compliance while strengthening security.

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Architecture and device agnostic

Develop without limits on 20+ architectures

IAR’s platform supports multiple architectures like Arm and RISC-V, ensuring compatibility, eliminating vendor lock-in, and simplifying development across legacy and next-generation embedded systems.
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Cloud-ready, tailored for enterprises

Scale seamlessly with cloud-powered development

Seamlessly integrates with private, public, and hybrid cloud environments, enabling remote collaboration, scalable builds, and CI/CD automation while ensuring security, compliance, and efficient resource management.
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Functional safety always included

Ensure safety compliance from the start

Pre-certified tools ensure compliance with ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and IEC 62304, reducing certification complexity and helping teams build reliable, safety-critical applications in automotive, medical, and industrial systems.
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End-to-end embedded security

Secure your embedded systems at every stage

Built-in security features like secure boot, encrypted code, and runtime integrity verification protect against cyber threats, ensuring compliance with NIST, the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), and ETSI standards.

Solutions for embedded projects

IAR platform includes solutions for the different steps part of your embedded development projects.

[EN] Solutions | Design and code generation

Solution

Design and code generation

Accelerate development with visual modeling and state machines, enabling automated, error-free code generation and a streamlined design-to-code workflow.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Comprehensive development

Solution

Comprehensive development

Unify coding, building, debugging, and testing in one seamless platform, reducing complexity and improving team efficiency across the development lifecycle.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Embedded CI/CD

Solution

Embedded CI/CD

Automate testing and deployment with Kubernetes, Jenkins, GitHub, and GitLab integration, optimizing workflows for faster, more efficient development cycles.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Code quality and compliance

Solution

Code quality and compliance

Ensure standards compliance with static and runtime analysis, improving code quality while reducing maintenance and defect costs, supporting regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Debugging and trace

Solution

Debugging and trace

Enhance real-time analysis and fault detection with advanced debugging and trace tools, including multi-core support, to improve code efficiency, system stability, and performance tuning.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Functional safety

Solution

Functional safety

Ensure compliance with TÜV-certified tools, reducing defects and simplifying certification for automotive, industrial automation, medical, and other regulated industries.

Read more
[EN] Solutions | Embedded security

Solution

Embedded security

Protect firmware with secure boot, encryption, IP protection and secure production, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity standards like the EU Cyber Resilience Act.

Read more

Tools and features

The tools and features part of IAR platform

Product

IAR Embedded Workbench

Complete toolchain with an industry-leading compiler, debugger, and analysis tools, ensuring efficient, high-performance embedded development.

Product

IAR Build Tools

Automates builds and testing in CI/CD pipelines with high-performance command-line tools, enabling scalable cloud and on-prem workflows.

Product

IAR C-STAT

Detects defects, security vulnerabilities, and compliance issues early with powerful static analysis for MISRA C/C++, CERT C/C++, and industry standards

Product

IAR C-RUN

Identifies runtime errors, memory leaks, and overflows, improving software reliability and debugging efficiency.

Product

IAR Embedded Trust

Provides a secure development framework with encryption, secure boot, and device authentication for embedded systems.

Product

IAR Embedded Secure IP

Safeguards embedded IP from cloning, tampering, and unauthorized access with strong encryption and device authentication.

Product

IAR Secure Deploy

Protects firmware during production with IP protection, anti-cloning measures, and secure provisioning workflows.

Product

IAR debug probes

High-speed debugging and trace probes enabling real-time analysis, performance optimization, and fault detection for embedded applications.

Product

IAR Visual State

Enables graphical state machine modeling for efficient system design, automated code generation, and validation of complex embedded applications.

Product

IAR VS Code extensions

Enables IAR’s build and debugging tools within Visual Studio Code, providing a modern, flexible development workflow.

Product

IAR Eclipse plugins

The IAR Eclipse plugin integrates IAR’s build toolchains and debuggers into Eclipse, enabling efficient, cross-architecture embedded development with advanced debugging.

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IAR embedded development platform

Get access to all

Scale development operations with freedom and flexibility, accelerate innovation with code confidence and simplify compliance while strengthening security.

  • Architecture and device agnostic
  • Cloud-ready, tailored for enterprises
  • Functional safety always included
  • End-to-end embedded security

With our platform, you get access to everything.
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