Gel File and Linker CMD file

Firstly, I would say that a linker command file is absolutely necessary for the code generation tools.  This file defines and describes the memory available to the targeted processor and where the linker is allowed to allocate sections into the target system's configured memory.

The GEL file is often used to provide some convenient scripting for the CCS IDE to perform certain tasks.  Usually, GEL files are used as a quick means of generating the appropriate initialization steps for a target device and the board it is running on.  Things like clock initialization, memory interface initialization, etc. are performed in the abscense of actual bootloader code to perform these functions.

In the end, a GEL file is not required as many of the tasks performed by the GEL file initially (if you choose) are performed by your bootloader when your system is deployed into the market.

prasanna um said:

1) So what eactly goes into the Linker command file and what goes into the GEL files. 

This is described in the various device family Assembly Language Tools User's Guides.  For the OMAP2430/OMAP3430, this would be the TMS320C6000 Assembly Language Tools User's Guide (SPRU186). 

For GEL files, as I mentioned above, it provides an extension to the CCS IDE environment and you can implement quite a bit in terms of scripting, initialization, etc.  Defining the memory map of the system to the CCS IDE itself.  This may seem like a duplication of what is in the Linker command file, but the linker command file description tells the linker what resources are available for allocating sections of code, data, etc.  The GEL file may also describe the memory map to the CCS IDE those things, in addition to potentially any memory mapped peripherals that are connected to the processor in the system that you want to read and write to via a memory window.

prasanna um said:

2) Is a GEL file required when i am working only with the DSP core

No.

prasanna um said:

3) is there a ready made GEL file available for OMAP SDP boards (2430/3430) which could be used for any project that runs on the platform. Or should any modification be done based on the project.

Yes, there are GEL files included in the CCS v3.3 installation.

prasanna um said:

4) We presume that the Linker file would be specific to the project, but neverthe less,  this question is more related to Q.1

Generally speaking, yes, because again you need to describe the available memory to the linker which will be dependent on your system.