Summary

In this chapter, we explored the intricacies of the embedded firmware build process, with a specific focus on the GNU Toolchain.

We began by getting to know the embedded build process, exploring its multiple stages – pre-processing, compilation, assembly, linking, and locating. Each stage was analyzed, clarifying its significance in transforming human-readable source code into executable machine instructions. We delved into the roles of pre-processing in preparing code, the nuances of compilation and assembly in translating and converting code, and the intricate tasks of linking and locating in forming a cohesive, executable binary.

Transitioning to practical application, the chapter introduced the GNU Binary Tools for Embedded Systems. By revisiting our previously developed bare-metal GPIO driver, we observed the build commands executed by the STM32CubeIDE, replicating these steps manually using our command-line interface. This approach gave us a deeper appreciation...