Any low cost / free ARM simulators?

Question

As we mentioned previously, we are working on a version of our C compiler for the ARM chips, initially for the ARM7 microcontrollers (more devices supported later). Anyway, our assembler / linker and even the code generator are progressing well, and we are at the stage where we can use a good simulator or debugger to start debugging our tools.

Currently, we are using evaluation version of Real View tool but it will soon expire. Unfortunately, the good people at ARM do not think that it will actually benefit them in the long run to give us a free or reduce cost version of the RVCT to speed up our development (they offer to give us 10% discount on 6+ copies, at over $6K each ), so we are looking for alternatives. We can use Linux or Windows tools, and of course once we bootstrap ourselves, including our own instruction set simulator, then we won't need these any more.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris Hills · Accepted Answer

In article , Richard F. Man writesUse the Keil simulator.... while you are at it use their compilertoo....Keil did their simulator before doing the compiler so they did not getin to the fix you are in.////////////////////////////// Chris Hills  Staffs  England    ////////         ////////////////////////////

Frank Ch. Eigler · Answer

Have you tried the ARM simulator that comes with the GNUcompiler/debugger toolchain, or other free software efforts like our- FChE

Richard F. Man · Answer

Yes, I understand that currently Keil is repackaged GNU (with their excellent GUI) but they are "working on their own compiler." We just decide to do things differently. We are of course writing our own instruction set simulator for eventual testing purpose.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Richard F. Man · Answer

Thanks, I will look into this.-- // richard

Jim Granville · Answer

Besides the other suggestions, GameBoyAdvance emulators are probably mature enough now to be worth a look. As well as giving you simulation, this pathway could be commercially usefull for your product. If you can offer a GBA Compiler/ GBA_Sim integration, there are cases where a GBA would make a nice processor/display hardware combination.

-jg

Pablo Bleyer Kocik · Answer

Richard, we have a few of them listed in our projects section at

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Warmest regards.

-- /"However, what if it does matter, and we are PabloBleyerKocik / missing something fundamental that could pbleyer2004 / change the way we see the world?" @embedded.cl / -- One Little Wrong Assumption, Darren Ashby

Chris Hills · Answer

In article , Richard F. Man writesIt is now available according to their web site..."This release includes an unlimited beta release of the Keil CA ARM CCompiler. The Keil toolset is optimized for the Thumb mode but alsosupports the ARM native instruction set. The compiler includes a veryefficient 32-bit floating-point library and run-time routines forembedded applications. 64-bit double float and 64-bit long-long supportwill be included in the next beta release."////////////////////////////// Chris Hills  Staffs  England    ////////         ////////////////////////////

Richard F. Man · Answer

As a matter, I was thinking the same thing. If we put out a kickass GBA development system, it could be a really nifty marketing moves...-- // richard

Any low cost / free ARM simulators?

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