ARM Cortex-M Microcontroller startup files

[Mike via Digitalmars-d]

On Saturday, 2 May 2015 at 21:53:42 UTC, Martin Nowak wrote:

>
> I never even needed dynamic memory allocation on a 
> microcontroller.

For many typical uses of microcontrollers this is absolutely 
true.  However, the 32-bit microcontrollers from ARM are much 
more powerful than the likes of AVR 8-bit microcontrollers in, 
for example, the Arduino Uno. Not all uses of microcontrollers 
are hard real-time, and these 32-bit ARM chips have processing 
power to spare.

I currently use them to build HMIs (Human Machine Interface, e.g. 
a GUI).  If I'm just doing machine control, I have absolutely no 
need for dynamic memory allocation, but if I'm building a user 
interface that involves images, TrueType fonts, vector graphics, 
etc..., dynamic memory allocation is quite useful, if not 
essential.

I suggest refraining from requiring or preventing any feature, 
including garbage collection and exceptions.  Rather, we can 
gradually make each feature available as the need arises, and the 
user can opt in and make their own tradeoffs.

Mike