Product update: Arm Development Studio 2025.0 now available

Arm has released the latest update to Arm Development Studio, version 2025.0.

This is the first publicly available release to include Arm Toolchain for Embedded Professional, and to support the latest Arm Cortex-A320 processor.

Other individual components of Development Studio have been updated to the following versions:

• Arm Compiler for Embedded 6.24
• Arm Debugger 6.6.0
• Arm Streamline 9.6.1
• Fixed Virtual Platforms (FVPs) are now based on Arm Fast Models 11.29

See also the Arm Development Studio 2025.0 Release Note, and the Arm Performance Studio 2025.3 Release Note.

Arm Toolchain for Embedded Professional 20.1.0

Arm Toolchain for Embedded Professional (ATfEP) is the next-generation Arm embedded compilation toolchain. ATfEP is almost completely open source, using technology from LLVM (assembler, compiler, linker, C++ library, binutils) and Picolib (C library). In future we expect the C library also to be taken from LLVM. This contrasts with AC6, where some components (assembler, compiler, C++ library) use LLVM technology with some downstream patches, with the remaining components (linker, C library, minor tools) are proprietary and carry over from AC5. This change in architecture brings advantages:

• Broader compatibility with GCC, including the linker script format
• Easier access to useful LLVM functionality, for example security features or memory sanitizers
• Easier support for rich OS such as Embedded Linux

ATfEP is likely to appeal to projects that:

• Are using AArch64 or Armv8.1-M cores (this is where ATfEP performance optimization is focused)
• Need compatibility with GCC
• Want to use additional functionality from the LLVM project, that was not possible to deliver in AC6
• Need to support Embedded Linux

Information about ATfEP can be found here.

Arm Compiler for Embedded 6.24

Arm Compiler for Embedded (AC6) has reached end of development. 6.24 is the final scheduled release, and adds full support for Armv9.6-A (replacing the beta support in the 6.23 release).

 Importantly, AC6 has not been retired or withdrawn, and continues to be enabled by Arm Development Studio licenses. AC6 is likely to appeal to projects that:

• Are already using AC6, and want to avoid migration to the next-generation ATfEP
• Benefit from AC6 scatter-loading to handle complex non-hosted memory layouts
• Benefit from AC6 closed-source optimizations, particularly performance or code density optimizations for Armv6-M, Armv7-M, or Armv8-M cores

Latest IP support

Arm Development Studio provides appropriate support for the Cortex-A320 throughout the product:

• Arm Compiler for Embedded
• Arm Debugger
• Arm Streamline
• Fixed Virtual Platforms
• A collection of example projects are provided to help you get started.

Available now

Arm Development Studio installers are available from the Arm Developer website. User-based licenses are available to purchase from the Arm Developer Store or our network of distributors.

• Existing users of Arm Development Studio with valid support and maintenance can upgrade to this version free of charge.
• Arm Development Studio is also provided as a component of Arm Success Kits.
• The way to obtain an evaluation license for Arm Development Studio has changed. It is no longer possible to obtain an a 30-day evaluation license from within the Arm Development Studio IDE. Prospective customers must now instead contact one of our regional distributors to request an evaluation license. The distributor will be the main point of contact to assist end users in their evaluation of Arm Development Studio and their purchase options.

Notice: Arm Development Studio 2025.0-2 is now available. This patch release includes an updated version of Arm Debugger. All other components are unchanged. For more information, see the Release Note.