Compilers

HighTec offers optimized automotive grade open-source based C/C++ and Rust compiler solutions for applications with high safety requirements in automotive and industrial domains.

C/C++ Compilers & Rust Compilers

Architectures

Qualification

Certified Libraries

C/C++ Compilers & Rust Compilers

  • HighTec’s Open Source Compiler Suite combines the power of GCC and LLVM to deliver high performance, portability, and reliability for embedded systems. Trusted by industry leaders like Apple and Nvidia, our compilers meet rigorous standards in code quality, optimization, and build speed, often surpassing proprietary tools. With decades of experience, we tailor open source technology to meet safety-critical requirements such as ISO 26262 ASIL-D and IEC 61508, ensuring certified reliability for automotive and industrial applications.

  • HighTec’s GCC and LLVM-based Compiler Suites are designed to meet market demands for modern silicon architectures, safety standards, and long-term stability—while remaining fully compliant with commercial licensing requirements. Legal assurance is critical when integrating open source technology into proprietary systems, and HighTec tackles these concerns head-on.

    To ensure commercial usability without restriction, HighTec replaces components like newlib in the GCC suite with commercially licensed alternatives. This resolves potential conflicts stemming from GPL2 or GPL3 licensing terms, protecting your intellectual property from unintended obligations. Similarly, the LLVM suite includes the lightweight picolib library and adheres to Apache 2.0 licensing—making it suitable for enterprise-grade deployment without legal friction.

    Every aspect of the suite is vetted for OSS approval, giving you confidence in compliance and freedom from licensing risks. HighTec bridges the gap between open source innovation and commercial peace of mind, so you can build without compromise.

  • HighTec understands that many embedded applications are designed for long product lifecycles, often spanning decades. Supporting older compiler versions throughout this timeline can present significant challenges. That’s why HighTec offers comprehensive long-term support for frozen compiler versions, giving customers the ability to maintain and evolve legacy toolchains with confidence. With the optional Frozen Version Support Package, you can choose which features to implement in your dedicated compiler version, regardless of its original release date.

    This provides full control over your development environment—ensuring consistency, reliability, and customization throughout your product’s life.

    To further strengthen toolchain integrity, HighTec delivers Advanced Bug Scanning Support. When a critical bug or silicon-specific workaround emerges, our custom scanning tool analyzes your application code to determine if it’s affected. This proactive insight enables informed decisions about corrective actions or update cycles, minimizing disruption and safeguarding system performance.

LLVM - C/C++

The most robust and flexible high-performance compiler solution. Built on the latest technology, driven by industry leaders, and enhanced to meet your safety requirements.

  • Aurix TC3xx (v1.6.2), Aurix TC4xx (v1.8)

  • armv6-m, armv7-a/m/r, armv7e-m, armv8-m/r

  • ARC EV71, …

  • RV32I, RV32E, RV64I, RV64E, …

  • Bosch MCS v3.0, v3.1, v4.0, v4.1, …

GCC - C/C++

State-of-the-art compiler technology, trusted in millions of applications. Tailored to your specific architecture and qualified to meet today’s highest safety standards.

  • TC17xx (v1.3.x), Aurix TC2xx (v.1.6.1), Aurix TC3xx (v.1.6.2)

  • ST Microelectronics: SPC56x, SPC57x, SPC58x (e200zx)

    NXP: MPC56xx, MPC57xx, MPC58xx (e200zx)

  • Aurix TC2xx, Aurix TC3xx

Rust Compiler

Empowering embedded systems with Rust brings memory safety, concurrency, and interoperability to the forefront. Reducing your time to market while aligning with your safety objectives from the very beginning.

  • Aurix TC3xx (v1.6.2), Aurix TC4xx (v1.8)

  • Cortex Mx, Rx, Ax

    cortex-a53, cortex-a57, cortex-a72, cortex-a73, cortex-a75

    cortex-m0, cortex-m3, cortex-m4, cortex-m7, cortex-r52

Qualification

To meet today’s industry requirements for functionally safe systems in safety-critical applications, HighTec offers a comprehensive Compiler Qualification Kit. This kit ensures that the compiler is qualified according to key safety standards, including ISO 26262 (up to ASIL D) and IEC 61508 (up to SIL 3).

Use Case

Contrary to standard Safety Manuals based on fixed default tool settings and non-relevant test suites, HighTec's unique approach provides the user with a tailored set of Safety Documents based on the user's specific and optimized tool settings related to the application that is subject to the certification.

QKIT Process

HighTec's tool qualification methodology is TÜV-certified for ASIL D, meeting the highest safety requirements for automotive software tools. It is based on the Validas Qualification Methodology, a model-based framework that provides a structured approach to tool qualification. Possible tool errors are identified and analyzed systematically using a toolchain error model. To ensure thorough validation, the Test Automation Unit (TAU) integrates standard test suites like SuperTest’s Perennial Validation Suite and DejaGNU, along with a custom-built test database.

Safety Documents

The safety documentation produced during the qualification process serves as evidence that the compiler is qualified for the application's specific use case.

  • Includes: description of methods, requirements tracing to standards, tool usage and operation dependent safety guidelines, and list of measures to mitigate potential errors of the selected Use Case.

  • Includes: Resulting Tool Confidence Level (TCL), Description of TCL derivation method, List of TCL for each component of the toolchain, and Determination of TCL for each Use Case and for each of the components (Compiler, Linker…)

  • Use Cases and features with qualification needs, Validation goals, requirements of standard and how they are to be satisfied, Qualification Environment, and Planned qualification process.

  • Use Cases and features that have been qualified, Test environment, Test results and analysis for test cases wit NOT PASS result, and Executed qualification process

Certified Libraries

As part of safety qualification requirements, C/C++ libraries may need to be certified based on the required safety level. HighTec offers certification for selected library functions to support compliance with safety standards. Further details are available upon request.

ASIL-D Qualification of C/C++ Libraries

ISO 26262 Compliance Made Simple
HighTec supports ASIL-D qualification of C/C++ libraries through TÜV-certified methodologies, ensuring full compliance with ISO 26262 Chapters 8.11 and 8.12.

Tools vs. Libraries – Qualification Differences

Understanding ISO 26262 Requirements

  • Tool Qualification (Chapter 8.11)
    Compilers and development tools must be qualified as defined in ISO 26262-8, using certified methodologies.
    HighTec provides tool qualification via the ASIL-D Qkit using the TÜV-certified Validas AG framework.

  • Library Qualification (Chapter 8.12)
    Software components like C/C++ libraries require separate qualification under ISO 26262.
    Key difference: Library qualification is not identical to tool qualification and must follow specific guidelines.