GNU Tools Fit Small Budgets

摘要

Any project that requires an embedded processor also requires software-development tools. Often, though, the cost of the tools dwarfs that of the development hardware. So it is no wonder that more and more engineers turn to low-cost or free software tools. You will find the free tools under the GNU banner among the best. Those tools include the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) and the GNU Project Debugger (GDB) that work with C, C++ and other languages. Add some utilities and libraries, and the resulting development package forms the "GNU toolchain." Lewin Edwards, an engineer at Digi-Frame (Port Chester, NY) said, "If circumstances force us to move to a different processor, I can't ask for another $10K to buy a new suite of development tools. So, when we look at highly integrated systems on a chip, we have a blanket rule: 'If a vendor doesn't support a processor with a free GNU toolchain, we don't evaluate the part.'" Edwards applies the same rule to support chips. If a company offers a proprietary chip and only supports proprietary toolchains, he will not use that device.