Semihosting support in CCS 5.4?

Laxmi,

CCSv5.4 will have an initialization script called <startup_ARMCA8.S> that already sets the SVC_Handler for you.

I am not sure if the version you are using already has this file and its correlated script called <AM335n.lds> (replace n with the device variant), but if not, you can download the update from the Device support page.

The GEL file is only required if you are passing command line parameters (arguments to main()), which are used by the semihosting function SYS_GET_CMDLINE

Hope this helps,

Rafael

I've also added a section to the wiki http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Semihosting on how to create a example semihosting project that could used as a baseline.

Thanks a lot!!!

Hi desouza,

I have startup_ARMCA8.S and .lds files. Accordingly i have modified the existing files.

Hi Mandeep,

I have created a new project  as specified in the link.

and I have checked the console IO in console-

But i am not able to see that "printf". Am i checking correctly here?

Hi,

I am able to see console using evm-sk with xds100v2 emulator.

This is simple application with printf and puts-

#include <stdio.h>

 /*

 * hello.c

 */

int main(void) {

      printf("Hello World!\n");

      puts("Semihosting Testing");

      return 0;

}

Console output window,-

But its not working with other boards, its hanging in svc_handler.

I have made list of boards which have tested and SOC is AM335x- same for all boards

Test result and difference between gel files is given below,

Any idea, why its hanging?

Laxmi,

Could you please collect and attach the Debug Server Log for the failing cases ( http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Troubleshooting_CCSv5#Debug_Server_Logging ). 

Mandeep

Hi Mandeep,

Sure. I will update it.

Hi,

Semihosting - 

CCS sample example did not work for EVM and Beaglebone boards.

Beaglebone Semihosting is working fine with GCC compile.

Here is a current Status of Semihosting issues with EVM(PG1.0 and PG 2.0) GCC Uart echo example.

EVM PG2.0-

Semihosting is not working but application works properly.

 Will it matter emulator for semihosting support? Because xds510 emulator used for EVM, whereas xds100v2 used for Beaglebone and EVM-SK.

EVM PG1.0-

Semihosting as well as application is not working. It hangs in AbortHandler - > UndefInstHandler

Any idea, what could be the reason?

Mandeep,

Thanks a lot for your support!!!

Let me explain what I have understood from your point that DEBUG_DumpBreakpoints() should exist in gel file.

That function we should add it into view->expressions, so that we can see the info of breakpoints.
GEl file did not have DEBUG_DumpBreakpoints function.

When i add this function to expression, below was the error
DEBUG_DumpBreakpoints unknown Error: identifier not found: DEBUG_DumpBreakpoints

Correct me, if i am wrong.

I have already tested it by adding breakpoint at SVC_Handler for GCC compile and CCS debug test, its hitting.

Let me summerise test cases and issues, which I have noticed during testing: 

CCS Semihosting Sample example:

It works for EVM-SK only, it did not work for Beaglebone and EVM boards.

ISSUE for Beaglebone and EVM: While loading example application,

1. It keeps looping in SVC_Handler
2. It did not enter into main()

GCC Compile- Uartecho application
I have modified lds and startup files to support semihosting
(reference from ccs example lds and .s files).

Works only for EVM-SK and It did not work for BeagleBone and EVM boards.

Beaglebone Test Case observation:
While loading application,
1. Application enters into main
Issue:

1. It prints non-english characters on UART console while running
2. Semihosting dint work

Reason: Use of *(.text*) in lds file, Because we must use this for Memory Command.

Solution: Modified lds without memory command, so that we can use *(.text) to solve the issue.
                 

Note: May be in future we may need to use memory command, but for now i have updated without memory cammand.

EVM Test case observation:

Note: Same code

EVM PG 2.0
While loading application,
1. Application enters into main
2. Added breakpoint at SVC_Handler
Issue: While running,

1. Hits SVC_Handler and loops for 10- times and then application works properly
2. Semihosting - not working

Hi Mandeep,

I have noticed previously that,

" Will it matter emulator for semihosting support?
Because xds510 emulator used for EVM, whereas xds100v2 used for Beaglebone and EVM-SK"

I have tested it xds100v2 for EVM, It's working fine now.

Current test result status wrt emulators-
Semihosting for EVM with xds100v2(GCC compile and CCS sample example) emulator is working successfully!!!!!!!!!!!!
But it’s not working with xds510 emulator.

As far as I know, wrt operation
1. only speed differs between xds100v2 and xds510

Any idea, difference between xds100 and xds510 apart from speed?

By analysing the above test results, its not the problem wrt Target code, its the problem of emulator.

So if in case the problem with target code, it should not work for other emulator also.

Correct me, if i am wrong.

If possible, can you check semihosting example for EVM with xds510 emulator?

Mandeep,

Here is a DS log and c file for your reference.

Details:
Board: EVM PG2.0
Emulator: Spectrum Digital XDS510USB Emulator

4265.ds.log

#include <stdio.h>
#include "soc_AM335x.h"
#include "interrupt.h"
#include "evmAM335x.h"
#include "uartStdio.h"
#include "hw_types.h"
/*
 * hello.c
 */
int main(void) {
	
	unsigned char s1[10];
	printf("Semihosting Testing\n");
        printf("Target -> Host Testing\n");
	puts("EVM PG 1.0 UART Echo Application\n");       
       
	UARTStdioInit();
	printf("Host -> Target Testing\n");
	UARTPuts("Host -> Target Testing\n", -1);
	scanf("%s", s1);
	puts(s1);
	UARTPuts(s1, 7);
	
	return 0;
}

Laxmi,

There appears to be a bug (SDSCM00046799) in the emulation stack that is causing semihosting to not work correctly with the xds510 emulator.

Regards,
Mandeep 

Hi Mandeep,

Thanks for the update of issue.

Any plan, when it will be fixed up?

What all features are supported in Semihosting like printf and scanf?

I had tested puts and gets function also,  its working fine.

I tried to use fgets, but its showing undefined instHandler?

I thought we can use all stdio features, am i right in this point of understanding?

Can i have list of features supported in Semihosting?

Laxmi,

I've added a new section to the wiki http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Semihosting#Stdio; which explains the relationship of stdio and semihosting. This includes the sample progarm we use to test semihosting support and it does include fgets. Thus, it should work.

Mandeep

Mandeep,

Thanks.

Its not fgets, its fopen function in GCC compile.

In CCS build, all the functions which you have mentioned are working fine.

fopen in GCC compile means crosscompile, its giving perror as

: Too many open files

Laxmi,

Where you able to make progress on this?

Mandeep

Mandeep,

Sorry for the delayed reply.

Here is progress status-

I have validated all features of Semihosting.

Below are the list of functions validated on GCC and CCS build :
GCC build and  CCS build-
 List of functions tested by block on stdin/stdout-
fflush(), puts(), fputs(), putc(), putchar(), fputc(), printf(), fwrite()
gets(), fgets(), getc(), getchar(), fgetc(), scanf(), fread(),
fprintf(), fscanf(), fread(),fwrite(),ferror(),perror(), clearerr()
rewind()

CCS Build - List of files tested by block on Files
fopen(), fclose(), remove(), fputs(), fgets(), fprintf(), fscanf(), fread(),
fwrite(), ftell(), rewind(), fgetpos(), fsetpos(), fseek(), ferror(),
perror(), clearerr(), feof()

Fopen has issue with GCC build-

unable to open file
: Too many open files

Here is a code used for testing,
FILE *fp;
fp = fopen( "F:\\ti\\ccsv5\\eclipse\\semitest1.txt", "w+" );
if (fp == NULL) {
  perror("unable to open file");
}
fputs ("Welcome!!!",fp);

CCS Build

1. Build it using CCS
2. Load it through CCS using Emulator
3. Run the application -> Application creates empty file in the path F:\ti\ccsv5\eclipse (default)
4. Application works  properly

GCC Build

1. Build it using GCC
2. Load it through CCS using Emulator
3. Run the application, It gives an error that “Too many open files”.

Any idea?

Hi Laxmi,

Are you including the crt0.S start file?

There is a necessary function initialise_monitor_handles(); that will setup the struct for your file handles. This function is defined in syscalls.c within rdimon.a so you can call it from main() to quickly test.

Regards,
 Louis Peryea