MIPS Development

The Outside Agency

I need to debug/develop some code for busybox which will be running on MIPS architecture.

So far SPIM simulator has been used to test assembly code but ideally, I'd want GNU toolchain setup inside busybox to compile C/C++ programs but unsure where to begin.

Would it make sense to compile a MIPS kernel and just run it from QEMU? or much easier to use a development board from MIPS?

How would I compile MIPS 32-bit kernel from x86 system?

Mod, please move to UNIX forum if you think it more suitable.

ianhobo

Ideally you would want to "cross compile" to your target architecture - i.e you develop on your x86, and compile for another architecture.

Compiling natively on a MIPS processor or board (assuming a constrained embedded processor) would be time consuming and difficult to set up.

Heres some stuff to read, also googling for "cross compile mips" etc will give more info

Hopefully all the info you need is here: x86 binaries to cross compile for MIPS
http://www.linuxselfhelp.com/HOWTO/MIPS-HOWTO-9.html

You may find more info here:
Linux port for MIPS
http://www.linux-mips.org/wiki/Toolchains

DaSilva

Busybox and MIPS, are you developing for one of the router Linux distros by any chance?

I worked on a project like this and ended up using a cross-compiler that the distro developers had on their site.

The Outside Agency

DaSilva wrote:

Busybox and MIPS, are you developing for one of the router Linux distros by any chance?

Just learning about MIPS architecture.

I had shell access to router running BusyBox and wanted to try get toolchain installed but didn't work out.

In the end I bought MIPS Linux starter kit. which is fine until I get GNU toolchain on the router.