[Dwarf-Discuss] DWARF for DSP like processors with multiple memories

[David Anderson]

Anthony Berent wrote:
> Hi,
>  
> I am looking for some advice on the correct use of DWARF for describing code
> running on an ARM Data Engine. ARM Data Engines are DSPs with multiple
> memories (not just data and instruction, but multiple data memories), each
> independently addressed. The C source code used to program the Data Engines
> uses pragmas to assign variables to particular memories, and to qualify
> pointers with the targeted memory. The addresses used within the processors
> never include an explicit memory identifier, instead there are different
> instructions to access each memory.
>  
> At the moment our DWARF description uses segment attributes (DW_AT_SEGMENT)
> to describe the allocation of variables to memories, but we are not sure if
> this is a correct use of DWARF. In particular:
>
> 1.	Is this a reasonable use of DW_AT_segment, which was, I believe,
> originally created for processors with segmented memory of the sort
> implemented in small-mode x86?
>   

IMO it is the right thing to do.   DW_AT_segment was intended
for all situations with a non-flat memory addressing model.
I don't know if anyone has used it before (and if so they do not seem
to have indicated to the committee how well it all worked).

> 2.	Is anybody currently using DW_AT_segment in a similar way, or
> solving a similar problem in a different way? If so, for which
> architectures?
>
> 3.	How should we describe which memory is targeted by pointers? Is
> using the DW_AT_address_class the right way to do this?
>   

DW_AT_address class is (as you already know) intended to indicate
how to interpret the bits of an address.  If the address contains
a segment identifier in it, this would be a way to describe such.
But that is not your situation it if I understand your
description.   DW_AT_segment seems like your best bet, but
of course take my opinion very lightly :-)
> 4.	Is there any way of describing in DWARF which memories contain the
> stack? I can't see any way of including segment information in DWARF 3 call
> frames, and, if I am reading it correctly the DWARF 4 draft I have seen this
> only supports segment information in the PC value in call frames.
>   

Unclear to me what the previous sentence means (after the second comma).
I don't have an answer to the question above.
> 	*	I say memories (plural) because some ARM Data Engines only
> allow certain registers to be saved in particular memories, so we sometimes
> need multiple stacks.
>
>   
Hmm.  No idea what to do about that, offhand.

> Many thanks for any advice anybody can give.
>   

Do let  us know (via dwarf-discuss) how it all goes.

Regards,
David Anderson.