On 11/9/07, William Chops Westfield <westfw@mac.com> wrote:
>
> (I've noticed this disturbing trend with gcc, especially with ip
> cores available from multiple silicon vendors.  Although gcc is
> touted as a feature, and the letter of "open source" requirements
> seem to have been met, actually putting together a working tool
> set for a particular chip seems to take a lot of expertise.  Grr.)
>

Other than the fact that headers/libraries/support are worth
the money for people buying commerical GNU based compilers,
it is really not that bad, even for a hobbyist.

I know you speaks from the perspective of a hobbyist and perhaps
you are talking about ARM. It is not that bad to use GNU ARM C
compiler and the simple Wiggler based JTAG debugger under
Windows/Linux.

For example, I would not say I am that experienced
with building software toolchains but I have no problems to
follow the procedures to build a ARM GCC compiler based on the
notes on gnuarm.com site. You do need to go to the right
sites/mailing lists and use Google more often as a hobbyist.

Links:
http://jcwren.com/arm [very nice for the LPC-P2148 board I have]

http://www.siwawi.arubi.uni-kl.de/avr_projects/arm_projects/ [WinARM and more]

http://gnuarm.alexthegeek.com/ [nice tutorial]

http://www.yagarto.de/
http://www.gnuarm.com/
http://openocd.berlios.de/

GCC also supports small MCUs like MSP430, AVR, 68HC11/12.


Xiaofan
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