Re: Tiva + Ada

[Brian Drummond <brian3@shapes.demon.co.uk>]

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 20:15:23 +0200, Tero Koskinen wrote:

> 12.2.2014 18:57, Rego, P. wrote:
>> How can I code/run Ada on a Texas Tiva EK-TM4C123GXL launchpad? Does
>> someone has already used Ada on it?
> 
> I would guess that there is no existing GNAT port for EK-TM4C123GXL, but
> it should be relatively easy to create some simple version by yourself.
> You can use Lucretia's Tamp as a base: https://github.com/Lucretia/tamp

TAMP is probably the best starting point.

I am currently re-visiting the MSP430-Ada project now that gcc4.9 has 
official support for the msp430.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/msp430ada/
(hasn't been updated to reflect gcc4.9 yet...)

But I also have interest in the ARM-Cortex (and what I learn on the MSP430 
will largely transfer) : I have a couple of TI Launchpads (Stellaris, the 
precursor to Tiva ... I'm a little behind!) and a Hercules RM42x.

The latter is especially interesting as an Ada target : it's a dual-
processor ARM Cortex operating in lockstep, aimed at high reliability 
applications, on a devboard costing under £15.

http://uk.farnell.com/texas-instruments/launchxl-rm42/rm42-hercules-
launchpad-dev-board/dp/2341348

There are 2 versions : the RM42 aimed at industrial/medical applications 
and an almost identical one tweaked for automotive applications

http://uk.farnell.com/texas-instruments/launchxl-tms57004/tms57004-
hercules-launchpad-dev/dp/2341346

And TI expect you to program this high integrity dual-processor platform 
in ... what?

Incidentally I can find several small runtimes (offering the Ravenscar 
profile) that may be worth adapting to the ARM (or are already targetted 
to it) but so far they all seem to be pure GPL, with no GMGPL (or GPLv3
+runtime exception) ... does anyone know otherwise?

ORK : http://www.dit.upm.es/~ork/index.html/
AVR32 (not ARM) : https://github.com/gregerts/GNATforAVR32
ARM-Ada : https://sourceforge.net/projects/arm-ada/

As this last already targets the ARM it may be the best starting point.

But I find myself tempted to start my own RTS, starting small enough to 
target the MSP430. It's tentatively called Crowsbike...

- Brian