User modules really are the heart and soul of PSoC Designer. Our pre-designed, pre-tested IP allows you to build your system faster, with more reliability and with much more integration than a traditional MCU. We introduce brand new user modules in every new release of PSoC Designer, but #5 focuses on how we've made existing user modules better.

Responding to requests from you, our customers and FAEs, we've improved over 40 of our existing user modules. These upgrades include new APIs, optimized performance and bug fixes. If you count user modules where all we did was improve the documentation, then the list of upgrades grows to 60!

Please note: when you open your older project in PSoC Designer 5.4, you'll be prompted by the Project Update wizard if there are newer versions of your user modules available. In nearly every case, these updates are optional. If your project is mature and nearing production, you can decline the upgrade with no issues.

If you read the last post, you may be wondering, "Cypress is sure starting to put a lot of example projects into PSoC Designer. As that list grows, how am I going to be able to find what I need?"

The answer to that is #6 on our list. Brand new in PSoC Designer 5.4 is the example project browser! This GUI shows you all of the example projects in a live filterable list, similar to the new device catalog we introduced in version 5.3. Simply start typing in the search box - a project keyword, a user module, a target device or a kit. As you type, the browser will apply your search string to the list of projects. To the right, you can see the project description as well as the actual main.c code. When you've found the project you're looking for, simply click "Create Project" and you're ready to go.

After yesterday's welcome announcement that PSoC Designer 5.4 had been released, we return to our regularly scheduled Top Ten list. #7 is actually made up of 15 smaller reasons, which is how many new example projects we've added.

We know that example code is extraordinarily useful for those learning how PSoC 1 and PSoC Designer works, but we also get a lot of example code requests from advanced users as well. Figuring out the best way to employ a new user module goes a lot more quickly when you can see how someone else has done it. That's why we've doubled the number of example projects in PSoC Designer 5.4, and why we will add similar numbers in future PSoC Designer releases. Stay tuned, we're just getting started.

Hello PSoC 1 Enthusiasts

I'm pleased to interrupt our Top 10 List to announce that the new version of PSoC Designer is available for immediate download! 

We've added new SmartSense user modules that are especially useful in home appliance products, as well as a host of new features to make PSoC Designer easier to use than ever. For example, you've often asked us for the same type of auto-complete capability that you have in Visual Studio and other IDEs. Well, we got it done! The PSoC Designer code editor now supplies auto-complete suggestions when typing reserved words, variables, functions and even user module API calls.

Is there a user module you'd really like to have, but isn't in our catalog? Well, now you can design your own! PSoC Designer 5.4 gives you full control of your user module's configurable hardware and firmware, as well as any kind of graphical interface you want to put on the front end. You can easily share these new user modules with other members of your team via the import/export capabilities of the tool.

We've also included a new example code browser along with 15 new example projects. The new ScanSAR user module allows you to measure any number of voltages (at the pins and internally) without having to manually configure the ADC or analog muxes. Finally, the IDAC user module provides the first programmable current source for PSoC 1 devices.

All these new features, higher performance and a number of fixed bugs - this is an upgrade you don't want to miss. To get PSoC Designer 5.4, please go to www.cypress.com/go/psocdesigner and download the installer. Alternatively, if you already have PSoC Designer 5.1 or later installed on your machine, you can invoke the Cypress Update Manager, and you will see a download option there.

Fittingly, the #8 reason to upgrade to PSoC Designer 5.4 is... Windows 8 support!

If you don't want to update the OS on your existing XP, Vista or Windows 7 machine, no problem! We've done the testing and support them all. And if you want to install PSoC Designer 5.4 on your new Windows 8 machine, we've got you covered there, too.