RL78 Family Development Environment
For first-time users of the RL78 family development environment, we introduce the tools required for development, recommended kits, and useful information on downloading the products.
Required Tools and Flow of Development
As elements of development environments for the RL78 Family, we offer a wide range of tools for use in individual development phases such as evaluation, development, prototyping, and mass production.
Introduction and Initial Evaluation
- Web Simulator *1
This simulator makes it easy for you to try prototyping with and simulate the measurement of current drawn online by an RL78-Family MCU. *2
We also recommend this simulator for engineers working from home.
*1 *Details on the Web Simulator
*2 You can use projects created by the Web Simulator for actual evaluation, development, and mass production.
Evaluation and Development
- Integrated Development Environment
- Compiler
- Emulator *1
- User system / Evaluation board
- Cables
*1 you need not use an Emulator to connect the PC to the Fast Prototyping Board via a USB cable.
Prototyping and Mass Production
- Flash programmer *1
- Emulator *2
- User system
- Cables
*1 The following flash programmers are available.
Software type：Renesas Flash Programmer
Stand-alone type：PG-FP6
*2 If you are using the PG-FP6, you need not use an Emulator.
If you are also using the Renesas Flash Programmer, you need not use an on-chip debugger to connect the PC to the user system via a serial or USB cable.
How to Prepare Tools for Development
To prepare the environment for development, we recommend the following two methods according to whether the users place priority on the ease of using the environment or on low costs.
Ease of Using the Environment
Purchase the Renesas Starter Kit, a set which includes an IDE, debugger, evaluation board, and cables. Once you have the kit, you can quickly start evaluation including all the facilities of the given RX-family MCU.
We recommend this method for users who want ease of preparing the environment and a quick start of evaluation.
Configuration
・Integrated Development Environment
・Emulator
・Evaluation board
・Cables
Low-Cost Environment
Install the IDE and evaluation edition of compilers on your PC and purchase a board with low-cost on-chip debugging facilities (Fast Prototyping Board). This allows you to start development at low cost.
How to install the e² studio and the compiler
The following video shows how to install an integrated development environment (with the e² studio as an example in this video) and a compiler.
You can also download the latest evaluation editions from the links in the table below.
RL78 Family Software & Tool Course
| Tool type | Product | Latest Version for Downloading |
|---|---|---|
| IDE*1 | e² studio | 2024-10 |
| CS+ | V8.12.00 | |
| Compiler | C Compiler Package for RL78 Family (CC-RL) | V1.14.00 *2*3 |
| Flash programmer | Renesas Flash Programmer | V3.17.00 |
- You can use the e² studio and CS+ IDEs from Renesas free of charge. For details on the features of these IDEs and of those from our partner companies, see RL78 Family Development Environment — Development Tools.
- If you intend to use CS+, download the latest version, which includes the evaluation edition of the compiler.
If you intend to use the e² studio, you can install the evaluation edition of the compiler during the process of installing and setting up the e² studio. If you install the compiler in this way, you will not need to download the compiler package as an individual item. You can use the C compiler for the RL78 family to evaluate its facilities and performance for up to 60 days without restrictions on its functionality.
After the evaluation period has elapsed, if you intend to continue using the compiler for product development, you can select either of the approaches below.- Select and purchase the compiler license that best suits your needs.
- Continue to use the compiler for free, but with restrictions on the available optimization levels.
For details, see Compiler Licenses. If you will need technical support, please consider purchasing a compiler license.
- An evaluation edition of the Renesas Flash Programmer is also available for downloading free of charge. However, if you will need technical support, please consider purchasing a software license.
Useful Plug-ins to Support Your First-Time Use of the Environment
We provide various useful plug-ins for the Renesas IDE.
“Plug-ins” does not mean that you need to follow special procedures to add them. The installed files of the IDE include these plug-ins, so you can use them as required.
Smart Configurator
Through the easy-to-use GUI of the Smart Configurator, you can easily make the settings of pins. After that, since the Smart Configurator automatically generates code, you can start evaluation right away even if you do not know programming languages.
You need only select a facility on the GUI and press a button; the C source code allowing you to operate that facility is automatically generated.
In addition, you can use the Smart Configurator to import the middleware libraries and sample applications that we provide for RX-family MCUs.
The Smart Configurator fully supports users who are beginners in development itself or in development with the use of RL78-family products.
Features
- Code generation
- Importing Middleware/Drivers
- Pin Settings
QE: Tools for Particular Applications
Quick and Effective tool solution (QE) – These tools make development know-how for applications available.
We incorporate various know-how for developing applications, such as for communications and touch sensors, in these tools. This minimizes your person-hours in development.
- The GUI makes it easy for even a beginner to develop touch user interfaces.
QE for Capacitive Touch - Measuring current drawn by systems as a whole
QE for Current Consumption - Easily and quickly tests the communications features of Renesas Bluetooth® Low Energy MCUs.
QE for BLE * - Eases the debugging of USB systems.
QE for USB *
*Only e² studio supported
Details on Other Development Environments
For details on the lineup of development environment tools, refer to the following pages.
RL78 Family Development Environment — Development Tools
RL78 Family Development Environment — Boards & Kits
RL78 Family Development Environment — Software