Question

I would like to simulate ARM code. For example, I want to run code like this:

MOV    R0, #5
ADD    R0, R0, #1
//somehow output R0

And it would output 6 on some software on my Ubuntu. Is it possible?

Answer 1

Keil MDK can be used to simulate the ARM codes. It provides a Simulate/Debug perspective which can be used to probe the ARM register set, memory content, etc…

MDK-Lite evaluation version is available free of cost for a maximum code size of 32KB.

Linux version of MDK is not available. But Keil MDK works perfectly over WINE in Ubuntu.

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Keil uVision MDK Installation on WINE:

Step 1: Install wine on Ubuntu

Open a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install wine

Step 2: Download Keil MDK.

Step 3: Install MDK

Right-Click on MDK executable file and select “Open With Wine Windows Program Loader” option.

Step 4: Invoke Keil uVision MDK on Ubuntu

Open a terminal and type:

wine ~/.wine/drive_c/Keil/UV4/Uv4.exe

Step 5: Install Flash Magic (Optional)

Flash Magic is a tool used to download software for Keil boards. Download Flash Magic Software and install it on wine (refer previous steps).

Create a COM1 link to serial port. Open a terminal and type:

ln -s /dev/ttyS0 ~/.wine/dosdevices/COM1

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Keil uVision MDK Project Creation and Debugging:

Step 1: Create a Keil UVision project for ARM7 target.

In Keil UVision tool bar select Project –> New Project.

Navigate to a location where you want to create this project.

Enter a project name and click Save.

Select ARM –> ARM7(Little Endian) as device for Target. Click OK.

Step 2: Create an assembly source file for the target

In Keil UVision tool bar select File –> New. Add the following code to the newly created file:

    AREA text, code, readonly
    ENTRY

    MOV    R0, #5
    ADD    R0, R0, #1

    END

Provide tab-space before each assembly statement as done above. Save the file with ‘.s’ extension.

Step 3: Add source file to project

In Project window (located left side of UVision), Right click on Source Group 1 and select “Add Files to Group Source Group 1” option.

Select test.s and click ‘Add’. (Select File Type as ASM Source file)

Step 4: Build source file

In Keil UVision tool bar select Project –> Build target or Press F7 to compile the source file.

Step 5: Simulate/Debug application

In Keil UVision tool bar select Debug–> Start/Stop Debug Session or Press Ctrl + F5.

The debug perspective opens up with a Register view at left side, Code View at center, Memory view at right bottom, etc…

Use the debugging keys to execute the code:

Observe Register view at end of program execution:

In Keil UVision tool bar select Debug–> Start/Stop Debug Session or Press Ctrl + F5 to come out of Debugging Perspective.