I am a relatively new in embedded systems and have so far only used ARM realview tool chian , tool chains for TI DSPs and GNU tool chain. But I have not encountered many problems with either yet ( most probably due to lack of experience :-( ) . Can any one tell me thier better or sweet experiences using GNU toolchain for embedded software development?
Anything that comes with : a) Hardware support after sale. b) Active mailing list. d) Good documentation. e) Tools that can be replaced with similar tools is a BIG advantage. f) Finally, I'd prefer tool chain that comes with less patches;) from kernel to libraries.
If you design your code with this in mind in the first place, then - yes. The FreeRTOS.org code compiles with GCC, Keil/Keil, IAR, Keil/RVDS, Rowley (GCC with different project management and IDE), Raisonance (GCC with different project management and IDE).
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Regards,
Richard.
+ http://www.FreeRTOS.org
A free real time kernel for 8, 16 and 32bit systems.
+ http://www.SafeRTOS.com
An IEC 61508 compliant real time kernel for safety related systems.
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Regards,
Richard.
+ http://www.FreeRTOS.org
A free real time kernel for 8, 16 and 32bit systems.
+ http://www.SafeRTOS.com
An IEC 61508 compliant real time kernel for safety related systems.
Yep. Me too. The only exceptions are when clients use micros that aren't supported by GCC.
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Michael N. Moran (h) 770 516 7918
5009 Old Field Ct. (c) 678 521 5460
Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144 http://mnmoran.org
"So often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains
and we never even know we have the key."
The Eagles, "Already Gone"
The Beatles were wrong: 1 & 1 & 1 is 1
I came pretty close to chosing a Mitsubishi M16C part a few years ago (for which you couldn't even find commercial tools hosted on Linux), but the Hitachi H8/300 solution turned out to be a little cheaper (and has a much nicer memory model).
--
Grant Edwards grante Yow! Now I'm concentrating
at on a specific tank battle
visi.com toward the end of World
War II!
Well! it depends, if you stick to genuine GNU thing then chances are vital to get replacement of required tools. But if someone want you to buy proprietary software with GNU suit then its different story;)
I "could", but I *do* have a life (family, etc ;-) I figure that if the device mfg want their micro to thrive, or the community thinks it should, then it will happen.
Although it's been done with some "interesting" architectures, GCC may not be easily portable to some micro-controller architectures. It is
*basically* targeted at higher end 32-bit stuff, though there are many exceptions. It also likes single address space RISC like architectures, better than others.
At 50 years of age, I've learned that I really don't have time to do *everything* myself ;-)
--
Michael N. Moran (h) 770 516 7918
5009 Old Field Ct. (c) 678 521 5460
Kennesaw, GA, USA 30144 http://mnmoran.org
"So often times it happens, that we live our lives in chains
and we never even know we have the key."
The Eagles, "Already Gone"
The Beatles were wrong: 1 & 1 & 1 is 1
One of the key points is that the gcc model works well when you have lots of similar registers. It's not the RISC style cpu that is the particular requirement, but multiple symmetric registers a characteristic commonly associated with RISC. For example, the 68k is a CISC architecture, but it has many RISCy features, such as multiple registers.
And the i386 target is an exceptional case for gcc - it is not a natural fit for gcc's models, but generates good code as a result of a huge effort in optimising the compiler for the i386.
On the 68k, for example, there are eight data registers D0 .. D7, all of which can be used in exactly the same way at any time. Similarly, address registers A0 .. A6 are identical. ABI and compiler conventions use specific registers for specific purposes, but this is not enforced by the cpu, and the compiler has a free choice. Compare this to a true CISC processor like the i386, whose data registers A, B, C and D have different purposes and different instructions.
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