SPG Tools Definitions

Embedded Processor Tools Product Glossary

Adapter - A mechanical interconnect for two hardware devices. Assembler - A program that converts words/instructions into number representations that the microprocrocessor or microcontroller can understand.

BIOS - Fundamental low-level software that links standard operating systems to various hardware architectures. BIOS vendors also integrate PCMCIA software suites and provide support for flash BIOS update capability.

Compiler - A program that translates high level programs into machine language so that they can be executed.

Debugger - A program that provides an environment for testing load modules (executable programs).

Device Driver - A standard interface to a hardware device.

Dissembler - Reconstruct an assembly level language instruction from a machine instruction.

Editor - A program that you use to enter your program and make changes as necessary.

Emulator - A plug-in replacement for a microcontroller or microprocessor chip which supports hardware and its own memory.

Evaluation Board - A low cost platform used to showcase a microcontroller or microprocessor in a system design.

In-Circuit Emulator - A plug-in replacement for a microcontroller or microprocessor chip in a target system that monitors device pins and provides real-time trace and triggering capabilities as well as hardware support for debugging.

Incremental Compiler - A program that combines compiling and interpreting by translating a high-level program into an intermediate form that is later interpreted.

Interpreter - A program that translates high-level programs into machine language, one line of code at a time, as they are executed.

Kernel - The “heart” of a real-time operating system. The kernel acts as the nucleus of supervisory software which performs services on demand, schedules, manages and allocates resources and generally coordinates multiple, asynchronous activities.

Library - A set of object modules accessible to the linker; a file containing a set collection of object modules that can be linked into a program.

Linker - A program that “connects” one or more object files and library to create a single executable program.

Loader - A program that places an executable program in a system’s memory.

Logic Analyzer - A device that connects to a target system’s microcontroller or microprocessor, which monitors pins and other device signals to give an accurate real view of software/hardware interaction.

Monitor - A simple program that does the very minimum to start the embedded system and use programs on it.

Operating System (O/S) - The master control program that runs the computer and provides an interface for users and their programs.

Pod - ICE, emulator pad, emulator probe, or probe boards that replaces the CPU with a plug-compatible hardware device that has additional hardware support for debugging

Real-Time Kernel Monitor - Work essentially the same as a ROM-based monitor, but have additional features such as task-based breakpoints and object browsers and editors.

Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) - The master control program for embedded software.

Remote Target Debugger - Also called ROM-based monitors, are integrated into the target application, connected to a host platform via a communication link and provide full source-level debug capabilities.

ROM Emulator - Connects direct into the target’s flash memory socket and communicates with the target directly without having to program flash memories. Simulator - A software representation (model) of a microcontroller or microprocessor that runs on a host platform, and executes bus and instruction level functions; allows program code to execute as if it were running on an actual target platform.

Source-Level Debugger - A specially prepared program to allow the executable program to be completely reconstructed during debugging.

Symbolic Debugger - A limited debugger that preserves some but not all of the programmer-assigned names.