Code Generation from Cinderella-SDL to Embedded Platforms

Abstract

SDL (Specification and description language) is increasingly adopted by many companies and researchers. Its simplicity and object-oriented structure can greatly ease the workload for them. However, the lack of concretization makes SDL not applicable when it comes to real-world implementation. AvR is a micro-controller which can be a platform to carry out real-world implementation. The micro kernel REFLEX of the AvR operating system adopted many SDL features. Here, I present a new code generator which can transform SDL systems into executable C programs. It is built specially for SDL REFLEX which is a micro kernel for the real time operating system of AVR. We analyzed some existing code generators like C-micro, C-Advanced/Basic, ConTraSt and Cinderella-SITE. Then, we gathered their advantages and promoted them into our solution. All the components which are helpful in building systems have been analyzed and classified; only necessary elements are kept in the transformation. We also provide the corresponding techniques used in the transformation. One test example, which is frequently used in literature, has been executed on AvR platform. The name of the example is “tank”. We give the name CGFR (“code generator for SDL REFLEX”) to the generator and Config to the supporting header generator. They can be integrated under Cinderella SDL as plug-ins.