Digital Signal Processor: Software Simulator

A number of development tools have been designed for the singlechip digital signal processor (DSP).1 This article describes a software simulator for the DSP, dspsim, which runs under the UNIX operating system. The simulator provides an interactive program development and debugging facility which operates exclusively in the UNIX environment with no need for the DSP and associated hardware. It includes general input/output handling and offers great flexibility in its ability to access registers, set breakpoints, and take specified action when prescribed conditions are met. Also, it has the capability of printing xy plots on the terminal. Execution can be interrupted at any time for observation of register contents, change in breakpoint conditions, etc., after which execution can be resumed without loss of continuity. Creation of programs is facilitated by the DSP assembler 2 which generates a file that the simulator can load directly into its program * Registered trademark of Bell Laboratories. 1475