Stack pointer check with Keil toolchain

[mmoore]

I’m configuring a project to use VS/VisualGDB and the Keil toolchain.  I am working through various issues and have been mostly successful.  The project will build, load and debug.  I am able to hit breakpoints and read memory and registers.  One of the few remaining issues is this error when I load a debug session:

Cannot resolve the address of _estack. Skipping stack pointer validity check.

The keil toolchain uses the symbol __initial_sp for the stack pointer.  I would assume _estack to be the GCC equivalent?  Is there an XML file that I can tweak to get the check working and squelch the warning?  Or an ELF file edit for the Makefile?  If not, would you consider adding support for this?

[mmoore]

I may have answered my own question.  I modified the ELF config command as follows:

ifeq ($(TARGETTYPE),APP)

ROM_SECTION_NAME := ER_IROM1

$(BINARYDIR)/$(TARGETNAME): $(all_objs) $(EXTERNAL_LIBS)

$(LD) -o $(@:.elf=.axf) $(LDFLAGS) $(START_GROUP) $(all_objs) $(LIBRARY_LDFLAGS) $(END_GROUP)

$(FROMELF) –bin –output $(@:.elf=.bin) $(@:.elf=.axf)

$(OBJCOPY) –redefine-sym __initial_sp=_estack \

–remove-section $(ROM_SECTION_NAME) \

–add-section $(ROM_SECTION_NAME)=$(@:.elf=.bin) \

–set-section-flags \

$(ROM_SECTION_NAME)=CONTENTS,ALLOC,LOAD,READONLY,CODE \

–change-section-address $(ROM_SECTION_NAME)=0x00029000 \

$(@:.elf=.axf) $@

endif

The –redefine-sym __initial_sp=_estack argument renames the stack pointer symbol.  This appears to satisfy the debugger, as it no longer complains.  Are there any negative ramifications to this approach?

[support]

Hi,

The solution you have found should work. You can also override the _estack symbol name by editing the .vgdbsettings file (search for the ‘EndOfStackSymbol’ element).

[Author]

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