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From: andy@sdcarl.UUCP (Andrew Voelkel)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc,net.micro.atari,net.micro.68k
Subject: developing standalone 68k C code
Message-ID: <268@sdcarl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Dec-85 02:48:38 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcarl.268
Posted: Fri Dec 13 02:48:38 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Dec-85 23:11:28 EST
Organization: Computer Audio Research Lab, UCSD, San Diego, Calif.
Lines: 57
Xref: watmath net.micro.pc:6204 net.micro.atari:1961 net.micro.68k:1407


     
        I have been looking for a while now for tools to develop code in C and
assembler for a free standing 68000 board environment. Here is a summary on
what I have found so far. Any additional information on any of these products
would be appreciated. I need to be able to write interrupt and hardware
drivers and incorporate them with C code to build up an environment. Also
relevant is register usage (how many register ints and does the function
call only push the ones used etc.) and compiler efficiency. I will summarize
to the net.

        Lattice - cross compiler from msdos to generic 68000. It sells for $1095
which include the Quelo Assembler. The literature they sent me doesn't say
much about provisions for a free standing rom based target. I have heard
good things about the Quelo Assembler and the literature they sent on it
looked real good. But what about when I have to port 'printf()' and have to
substitute my own character put and get routines which I've written in
assembler? I'm sure they don't furnish source for printf and they don't
mention how this is dealt with so I am leery. They do have a good reputation
though. The price strikes me as steep.

        Whitesmith - cross compiler from msdos to cpm68k or free standing.
Sells for $1100. They sent me literature which describes pretty well how
they deal with the issue of free standing romable code. Their compiler
produces assembly and there is a separate assembler. This would make
examining code efficiency and such very straightforward. They give the
impression of being more familiar with this kind on development. Their
standard library is built in such a way as to allow the programmers low
level drivers to be linked in with it so the library is portable. Sounds
like it would be better than the Lattice. Any comments? Stikes me as
expensive.

        DRI - development package for the Atari ST. The price of $300 would
allow me to buy an ST system and still not pay any more than for an msdos
cross compiler! It includes a bunch of stuff (could someone send me a
current list?) which includes assembler, linker, loader, a small shell
with history and aliases and emacs - at least this is what I have been
told. I have also heard that portions of TOS were developed in C with
this package. If this is true it would mean that this is a trodden path
which is very good. Someone commented that "the compiler is not so hot -
but it works". I would appreciate any comments on what this might mean.
In general I would like to hear a review of this package as it seems
like the best deal to me. The Lattice compiler for the ST will be out
soon for $150. Any comments on using this one for standalone code?

Have I missed any options? I have a ibmpc clone with a hard disk currently.
I would like to think this subject is of general interest but replies
to previous compiler inquiries would indicate that this is not the case.
However, if anyone can be of any help please reply by mail and I will
summarize to the net.

Thanks in advance.


--
        Andrew Voelkel
        {ucbvax,ihnp4,akgua,hplabs,sdcsvax}!sdcarl!andy