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DSP Software Development

A full-day BDTI seminar

AVAILABLE ON-SITE OR ONLINE

Overview
Course outline
About BDTI
For more information

Overview

This class discusses the unique requirements of software development for DSP applications. Issues such as floating-point to fixed-point migration, when to use a high-level language and when to use assembly language, features and capabilities of current DSP software development tools and how to use them effectively, and DSP software optimization techniques are covered.

Outline

Computational demands
Algorithm attributes
Data access attributes
Memory bandwidth requirements
Resource constraints
Numeric fidelity requirements
Standards
Real-time aspects
Reliability
Processor and tool characteristics

An overview of a DSP software development process

Process, tools, and techniques
- Definition of requirements
- Specification
- Prototyping
- Floating-point to fixed-point migration
- Implementation
- Optimization
- Testing
Integration

Floating-point to fixed-point migration

Why do it?
Approaches and techniques

Managing numeric fidelity

Scaling
Rounding
Floating-point emulation
Block floating-point
Multi-precision fixed-point

High-level languages vs. assembly language

Advantages, disadvantages of each
Compiler capabilities and limitations
How to decide when to use an HLL and when to use assembly

Development tools, other resources

Key features, capabilities, limitations, and performance of tools
- Baseline tools
  - C compilers
  - Assemblers
  - Linkers
  - Simulators
  - Development boards
  - Profiling tools
  - Emulators
- Advanced tools
  - Assembly optimizers
  - System-level design tools
- Integrated development environments (IDEs)
- HDL simulators
- Software libraries
- RTOS
Using development tools effectively

DSP software optimization techniques

Profiling and performance measurement
Optimizing for...
- Speed
- Energy consumption
- Memory use
Optimizing with...
- High-level languages
- Assembly languages
- Application profiling
- Compiler intrinsics
- Language extensions
- Loop optimization
- Algorithmic transformations
  - Unrolling across outer loops
  - Arranging data in memory
  - Identifying redundant operations
  - Unconventional use of execution units
- Scheduling techniques
  - Loop unrolling
  - Software pipelining

Using off-the-shelf DSP software components

DSP software debugging

Key features of debuggers, on-chip debug support
Debugging real-time applications

Miscellaneous techniques

Developing software for multi-channel applications
Bootstrapping
Overlays
Interrupt handlers
- Fast interrupts
RTOS
Smart peripherals
DMA

Trends and conclusions

Processors
Tools
Techniques
Languages

About BDTI

Berkeley Design Technology, Inc (BDTI) is a technical services and software company focused on DSP technology. BDTI is well-known for developing the only vendor-independent set of DSP benchmarks, the BDTI Benchmarks™, which it has implemented on nearly every processor used in DSP today. BDTI provides DSP software development and optimization services, published reports on DSP technology, and DSP technical advisory services.

For more information

For more information about this and other BDTI training classes, including availability of online versions and schedules for public presentations, please register with BDTI.