Methods for retargetable DSP code generation

Efficient embedded DSP system design requires methods of hardware/software codesign. In this contribution we focus on software synthesis for partitioned system behavioral descriptions. In previous approaches, this task is performed by compiling the behavioral descriptions onto standard processors using target-specific compilers. It is argued that abandoning this restriction allows for higher degrees of freedom in design space exploration. In turn, this demands for retargetable code generation tools. We present different schemes for DSP code generation using the MSSQ microcode generator. Experiments with industrial applications revealed that retargetable DSP code generation based on structural hardware descriptions is feasible, but there exists a strong dependency between the behavioral description style and the resulting code quality. As a result, necessary features of high-quality retargetable DSP code generators are identified.