Real-Time Signal Processor Software Support

The Real-Time Signal Processor (RSP) is a microprocessor optimized to provide fast, cost-efficient processing for signal processing applications. In order for the RSP to become fully useful, a complete set of software support tools needed to be developed. The hardware design and software development, which took place between 1978 and 1980, resulted in many architectural features which minimized hardware complexity at the expense of programmability. This paper describes the tools that were developed and the decisions that were involved, and includes hindsight comments on what was done. Particular emphasis is placed on the most interesting aspects of the software development, i.e., how the special architectural features of the RSP were handled to make the overall hardware/software system more programmable.