Analog Devices ADSP-218x Converting Legacy Architecture Files To Linker Description Files

About this manual

This document serves as a technical guide for developers transitioning from older Analog Devices development tools (versions 5.x and 6.x) to the VisualDSP 7.0 toolset. It details the differences between legacy system files and the new Linker Description Files (LDF) used to define hardware memory architecture for the ADSP-218x DSP family.

The guide provides specific examples of how to declare memory regions, such as Program Memory (PM) and Data Memory (DM), and how to handle hardware overlays. It covers the syntax for defining interrupt vector tables and mapping code modules to specific memory segments, offering a direct comparison between the old syntax and the new LDF format.

What's inside

• Introduction
• Understanding Legacy System Files
• A Simple 2181 LDF Example
• Hardware Overlay Support
• MEMORY Section
• PROCESSOR Section
• SECTIONS
• Linker Directives

Frequently asked questions

What VisualDSP version is required to use the linker description files described in this note?

The document explains how to describe hardware memory architecture using VisualDSP version 7.0.

What data width must be declared for Program Memory segments in an LDF file?

Program Memory segments must be declared as 24 bits using the WIDTH(24) LDF command.

What data width must be declared for Data Memory segments in an LDF file?

Data Memory segments must be declared as 16 bits using the WIDTH(16) LDF command.