Multi-core debugging: Filip thoen describes the process of efficient debugging of heterogeneous multi-processor platforms

摘要

Software in embedded devices, like cell smart phones, routers, and advanced telematics systems, is undeniably the critical design bottleneck, with software exponentially growing in size and complexity. Time-to-market requirements demand new, more efficient approaches to today's embedded software complexities. As software complexity has increased, so has hardware complexity. Most of today's embedded systems are multi-processor architectures. For example, high-end smart-phones already contain many microprocessors (MPUs) and digital signal processors (DSPs) to provide advanced (2.75G and 3G) modem and application processing, as well as WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth functionality. Current embedded software design practices are not equipped to deal with the complexities of developing and debugging software for these heterogeneous architectures.