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Generating .elf files with ARM toolchain

PMG100

Hello.

I'm fairly new to embedded software development, and could use some clarification on how to generate .elf files from .c files.

I've recently downloaded the following toolchain installation:

developer.arm.com/.../gcc-arm-none-eabi-7-2017-q4-major-win32-sha2.exe

One of my confusions was the purpose for all of the .exe files in the main bin folder (I noticed there are several bin folders).  The folder, $TOOL_ROOT\7 2017-q4-major\bin contains 30-ish .exe files, such as,

arm-none-eabi-ar.exe

arm-none-eabi-gdb-py.exe

arm-none-eabi-gcc-7.2.1.exe

To do a basic compile of .c to .o or .elf, which ones do I need to know about?

The main task I'm trying to achieve with the tool chain is to compile .c to .elf, to load into a third-party SoC development tool (VLab by ASTC, if that helps).  The .c file contains code to program a Cortex M3, and the development tool I'm using loads .elf files.

Please note that I'm more of a chip designer than a software developer, so don't assume much knowledge about embedded design.

Thanks!

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  • +1

    Hello,

    All these .exe files are different components of the GNU toolchain. In your three examples you have the archiver, the debugger, and the compiler (gcc). If you wanted to compile (and link) "main.c" you would run something like:

    gcc main.c

    from the command line. This should generate a .axf or .elf image which can be run on some platform. Running:

    gcc -c main.c

    only compiles the file into a .o file, which is compiled, but not linked. If you have't found it already, this page contains information about the GNU-arm toolchain, as well as links to the GNU documentation if you need it.

    Hope that helps,

    Tim

Reply
  • +1

    Hello,

    All these .exe files are different components of the GNU toolchain. In your three examples you have the archiver, the debugger, and the compiler (gcc). If you wanted to compile (and link) "main.c" you would run something like:

    gcc main.c

    from the command line. This should generate a .axf or .elf image which can be run on some platform. Running:

    gcc -c main.c

    only compiles the file into a .o file, which is compiled, but not linked. If you have't found it already, this page contains information about the GNU-arm toolchain, as well as links to the GNU documentation if you need it.

    Hope that helps,

    Tim

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