Code size limitation bug in Cosmic compiler 4.3.13

jro · ‎2015-02-04

Posted on February 04, 2015 at 10:36

Hi folks

We're using the 32k code-limited version of the Cosmic compiler: I've just downloaded the latest version 4.3.13 to ensure the bug exists in this, which it does...

I suddenly had a report that my code had grown beyond the 32k limit, which was a surprise as I'd previously had about 1600 bytes free. After a bit of work, it looks as if the .bss section is being counted towards the limit, as it's about 1600 bytes long, and I can remove the error by making one array a couple of elements shorter. Here's the segment list from the .map file - if I try to grow .bss by 2 bytes the link fails, claiming my program is 32770 bytes:

start 000080c0 end 00008d39 length 3193 segment .const

start 00008e8f end 0000f9f8 length 27497 segment .text

start 0000f9f8 end 0000fa00 length 8 segment .cksum

start 00001000 end 000010e8 length 232 segment .eeprom

start 000010e8 end 000013f4 length 780 segment .log

start 00000000 end 00000000 length 0 segment .bsct

start 00000000 end 0000000a length 10 segment .ubsct

start 00000a:0 end 00000a:3 length 3 segment .bit, initialized

start 00008d4b end 00008d4c length 1 segment .bit, from

start 0000000b end 0000000b length 0 segment .share

start 00000010 end 000000fc length 236 segment .data, initialized

start 00008d4c end 00008e38 length 236 segment .data, from

start 000000fc end 000006f2 length 1526 segment .bss

start 000006f2 end 00000749 length 87 segment .ramfn, initialized

start 00008e38 end 00008e8f length 87 segment .ramfn, from

start 00008080 end 000080c0 length 64 segment .version

start 00000000 end 00001861 length 6241 segment .info.

start 00000000 end 00018d56 length 101718 segment .debug

start 00008000 end 00008080 length 128 segment .const

start 00008d39 end 00008d4b length 18 segment .init

I'll report this direct to Cosmic, but obviously can't expect much/any support for the free version; I just hope they'll regard it as enough of a showstopper to fix it quickly, as it seems to be an effective code size limitation of around 30.5k, depending on your .bss size.

Meanwhile, does anyone have similar experience of this, or a workaround?

Best regards

Jonathan

jro · ‎2015-02-04

Posted on February 04, 2015 at 16:35

Hi again

OK, just had a very prompt reply from Luca at Cosmic, and this is apparently the standard restriction and always has been - you can have a total of 32k combined code and RAM. The more RAM you use, the less code you can write!

Odd, but it's their compiler so they can make the rules...

Cheers

Jonathan