GPL'd Embedded Development Tools?

An Anonymous Coward queries: "Is anyone aware of free tools available for embedded digital signal processors? A number of companies (such as, I think, Motorola) used to produce DSP-optimized versions of gcc and the like for their embedded processors, but these days such code seems to be lost. I am a student trying to do homebrew DSP development for some RF apps, and the cost of all the development tools is staggering (not to mention none of them seem to run under Linux). The sole factor in deciding which DSP I use is the availability of development tools -- any suggestions?"

Free/cheap tools

[Opusnbill7]

I know that TI used to have free compilers available on the web for their older DSPs (c3x,c4x), but I'm not sure about the newer models (67xx,64xx). They also have a program in place where they will donate tools to schools that lack the funding to purchase them, if they can show they will be used for educational purposes. (This may have changed in the current economic climate, but I hope not.) I think it was called TI University Support, but I'm not positive. Look around their site and hopefully you'll find something useful. I experimented with the GNU compilers for the c3x series and didn't have much luck...but YMMV. Good luck! DSP programming can be very frustrating but also very rewarding. :)

What's the application ?

[MrRudeDude]

Just out of curiosity, what's the RF project you are working on ? (Don't tell more than you can, of course.) The more details, the more suggestions and comments you will get.

uClinux

[mrpull]

Check out uClinux.com [uclinux.com] and uClinux.org [uclinux.org]. I don't know too much about embedded development, but I know that Lineo used to sell a student/geek kit with a chip (Dragonball Something or other :) and dev software for about $100. I don't know if they still sell it, but I'm pretty sure they still have some in their warehouse (don't ask me how I know).

Also, there is a bunch of Free and not-Free software available from the .org site.

Later, mr.

Re:uClinux

[KarlH420]

This is not somthing you do DSP with.

opencores.org

[dstanfor]

You probably would do better to ask the good folks at opencores.org. They mainly would know hardware design type tools, but I believe they also might know compilers.

Found a few..

[zsazsa]

After poking around in the links in the article about the AD2818 EZ-Kit Lite [slashdot.org] that ran yesterday, I found that there is a version of GCC for several of the Analog Devices DSPs, called G21 [kvaleberg.com]. It seems pretty old, however (1995), so it probably won't support their latest whiz-bang DSPs.

C4x GNU Tools [canterbury.ac.nz] appears to have the same thing for various TI DSP lines and appears to be better maintained.

I found these sites by searching google for "analog devices dsp gcc" and "ti dsp gcc." ;)

Ian