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Permalink Reply by Michael Zaffuto on July 24, 2010 at 6:51pm

http://pixhawk.ethz.ch/tutorials/omap/dsp_toolchain

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Permalink Reply by Colin Johnston on July 24, 2010 at 8:25pm

I was reading that. So does this mean I don;t need code composer IDE with the C6000 complier for windwos? If I choose to do everything on a linux (ubunto) host? Im not very family will all the toolchains.

I want to build/compile files for both ARM + DSP on linux host. Can I do this with these toolchains they talk about on the pixhawk website

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on July 26, 2010 at 3:02pm

you DO NOT want to setup your build environment on a windows host, the only way technically I know of doing that would be adding cgywin or whatever its called. You will want to setup a linux box that will have your build environment on it. You will need a bunch of hard drive space if you want to be able to fully alter and play with all aspects of the code. For my image I use it takes of 200 gigs in temp files to make my image. If you do not need access to all the source codes and compiled files and things like that add do_rmwork I think it is to you local build conf file to make it remove uneeded tmp files as it compiles.

There is no easy way with the gumstix, most thing you will have to figure out on your own as thats just the way it is. Especially if its not something anyone else on the the boards have tried or wanted to try. Theres a ton more manuals examples and what not out there other than the pix hawk site. I would first start reading the actual gumstix manual first then the open embedded manual then bitbake's manual. That will give you the basic grasps for using compiling and building what you need how you need it. I would consider myself pretty well versed with linux and starting off with the overo's made me feel like a linux beginner again.

its much harder to compile on the actual gumstix than to just setup a build environment and do it that way. Plus what you want to do is meant to be done on a build machine building your image. I would first start off building and working with a basic image with a gumstix then trying to get features like this working. I personally use an overo fire with a summit daughterboard that is connected to a UAV Dev Board. Also the last time I checked the directions they have up were either not complete or did not compile for me I cant remember what it was as I did that awhile ago.

http://www.gumstix.net/Setup-and-Programming/cat/Overo-Setup-and-Pr...
http://docs.openembedded.org/usermanual/html/
http://www.gumstix.net/wiki

Theres a few links to start you off

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Permalink Reply by Colin Johnston on July 26, 2010 at 8:04pm

Jeremy thank you for the email. I guess what I was looking for was not all the details of compling, building and so forth but if indeed one can compile code for the ARM co processor and the DSP all under my ubunto linux desktop without needing a certain complier or IDE for either or both that is going to cost me hundreds of dollars. I can't get anyone for th elife of me to answer that question.

"Can I build everything on my linux desktop as host" to include packages with linux freeware available for download and not having to send money for instance like on code composer for windows. There is no code compser for windwos so that makes me think that you can use linux along with DSPlink and whatever else. I will find the answers to the details of actually doing everything in linux which I want, I was just wanting someone that has already done this tell me if this is even possible before I try and go spend lots of time and effort. I have yet to find a friendly someone that can tell me that yes. I just see that in wondows you need the DSP complier and Code composer IDE and whatever else...Well, how would it work in linux?...is there freeware to do all these things?

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Permalink Reply by Curt Olson on July 26, 2010 at 8:18pm

So what would I do with a DSP if I had one? (To abuse an old wizard of oz quote.) I know that's a dumb question, but I've never played around with a DSP before. Is it just another general purpose processor that can run whatever code a write for it? I assume it probably has some sort of operations that are optimized ... probably related to signal processing (just a guess.) But are there types of tasks the DSP chip is especially well suited for? Or can I just think of it as another CPU that I can farm off work to?

I've been thinking about getting a gumstix Overo and have been trying to decide if I want to pay for the DSP add on or not?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Zaffuto on July 26, 2010 at 8:26pm

Hi Colin, I'm not an expert or anything, but my understanding, from the information on the pixhawk site is that a PC running as an Ubuntu Linux Host can be used to compile both processors..for free. The C6000 compiler is seemingly offered for free by TI. What you don't get by using just the code generating tool is the simulator that would be present in CCS. The GPP toolchain handles the ARM side and DspLink lets the two processors talk together. Seems to me that it should be a working solution or they wouldn't outline it the way the did.

Ubuntu Linux Host
■ Both DSP- and GPP-code can be compiled and therefore be kept together.
■ No advanced debugging tools for DSP-code.
■ Compiled application must be loaded on stick to be tested on the embedded platform

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on July 26, 2010 at 8:46pm

quick and easy answer is yes DSP works and can be compiled. You use bitbake to compile everything for your gumstix. Most if not all of your questions your asking would be answered by reading the gumstix manuals and openembedded

To compile anything that will go on your overo you will write a recipe(to have it native on your image) for it. and depending on the code your writing if it uses a make file you need to accomodate your recipe accordingly. But take a read through those manuals and you will figure all this out :) RTFM :) I do everything on a linux host

Also forgot to say the TI manual on the chipset is a good read and with basic examples of how to use it

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Permalink Reply by Colin Johnston on July 26, 2010 at 8:50pm

Holy crap. I totally butchered that last post...Wow..Sorry I didn't really take time to read over it otherwise I would have made more sense..Thanks for all the posts..I agree with Michael..and thanks for the post..It looks like you can write, compile, and build (either together or separate) code for both DSP and ARM all under linux with the tools available for linux.. I was just reading that you needed the code studio or composer that comes with the C6000 complier or whatever in windows..It appears through the posts the a total linux host solution is the best route....

By the way, I want the DSP to do my DCMs!!

Thanks All

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy on July 29, 2010 at 12:20pm

in case you missed this announcement

http://blog.embeddedcoding.com/2010/07/ti-releases-free-dsp-softwar...

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