Specifications

Getting Started 15
3. SOFTWARE INSTALLATION & OVERVIEW
To develop and debug programs for the RCM2200 (and for all
other Z-World and Rabbit Semiconductor hardware), you must
install and use Dynamic C. Dynamic C is an integrated develop-
ment system for writing embedded software. It runs on an IBM-
compatible PC and is designed for use with Z-World single-
board computers and other single-board computers based on the
Rabbit microprocessor. This chapter takes you through the
installation of Dynamic C, and then
provides a tour of the sample
programs
for the RCM2200.
3.1 An Overview of Dynamic C
Dynamic C has been in use worldwide since 1989. It is specially designed for program-
ming embedded systems, and features quick compile and interactive debugging. A com-
plete reference guide to Dynamic C is contained in the Dynamic C User’s Manual.
You have a choice of doing your software development in the flash memory or in the
SRAM included on the RCM2200. The flash memory and SRAM options are selected
with the Options > Project Options > Compiler menu.
The advantage of working in RAM is to save wear on the flash memory, which is limited
to about 100,000 write cycles. The disadvantage is that the code and data might not both
fit in RAM.
NOTE: An application can be developed in RAM, but cannot run standalone from RAM
after the programming cable is disconnected. All standalone applications can only run
from flash memory.
NOTE: Do not depend on the flash memory sector size or type. Due to the volatility of
the flash memory market, the RCM2200 and Dynamic C were designed to accommo-
date flash devices with various sector sizes.
Developing software with Dynamic C is simple. Users can write, compile, and test C and
assembly code without leaving the Dynamic C development environment. Debugging
occurs while the application runs on the target. Alternatively, users can compile a program
to an image file for later loading. Dynamic C runs on PCs under Windows 95, 98, 2000,
NT, Me, and XP. Programs can be downloaded at baud rates of up to 460,800 bps after the
program compiles.