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Section 1. Introduction
Section 1. Introduction
1.1 What is i.MX GNU X-Tools™?
The i.MX GNU X-Tools™ product is a cross-tools development toolsuite consisting of C/C++ compilers, assembler,
archiver, binary utilities, C/C++ libraries, and debugger. The GNU cross-tools collection is made up of open source
cross-compilation and debugging tools designed to support professional embedded systems development for
ARM9™ / ARM11™ target processors on the Linux and Windows host platforms. Microcross builds, debugs,
patches, documents, and brands their product for the Freescale Semiconductor i.MX processors.
Background: The GNU tools are the evolutionary embodiment of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) GNU
Compiler Collection (GCC) as envisioned by Richard Stallman of the FSF in the mid-to-late eighties. Through the
collective efforts of hundreds of volunteers and organizations (see Section 1.2), the GNU Tools has grown to be a
mature and robust suite of tools that is readily available in source form. The source code is freely distributable
under the license terms of the General Public License (GPL) from the FSF (see www.gnu.org); however, building a
toolsuite is a complex and time-consuming task. Microcross’ contribution to value-add is to build, test, package,
document, distribute and support the GNU toolsuites in ready-to-run form, making them accessible at low cost to
both casual and professional users. The The i.MX GNU X-Tools provides all of the components an embedded
developer needs in order to evaluate and use the GNU cross-toolsuites. GDBTK, also branded by Microcross as
Visual GDB™ (a.k.a. Red Hat Insight debugger) is seamlessly integrated as the GUI debugger for the i.MX GNU
X-Tools toolsuite.
1.2 Acknowledgements
The GNU Tools and utilities represent the essence of the free and open source movement; in fact all who
participate in using and improving them are benefactors as well as contributors. Microcross is certainly no
exception, and as such we gratefully acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their contributions
to the open source universe:
• Richard Stallman, founder of the GCC and the Free Software Foundation.
• The Free Software Foundation for their role in focusing and managing open source development.
• Cygnus Solutions and now Red Hat for their leadership and contributions toward the GNU Tools as a
viable cross-development platform.
• Linus Torvalds for creating the Linux kernel and founding the crusade to level the OS playing field.
• Many thousands of individual contributors whose names can be found buried in the source files that they
spent long nights developing, debugging and perfecting.
• Additional acknowledgements are noted in the ‘contributors’ file of each subdirectory of the source tree.
1.3 License Agreement
The i.MX GNU X-Tools is distributed under the license terms of the General Public License (GPL). You may read
this license at www.gnu.org or on the distribution CD for i.MX GNU X-Tools. The following exceptions apply:
• The C and Math Libraries (Newlib) are distributed under an unrestricted license so that linked library
binaries may be distributed as part of user developed applications without restrictions from the GPL.
• Libstdc++, the C++ class and template libraries, are distributed under the FSF GNU Lesser General Public
License (LGPL).
• The i.MX GNU X-Tools and Cygwin Windows installers are licensed software material from Microcross.
• The i.MX GNU X-Tools and Cygwin CDs may not be reproduced without prior written consent from
Microcross.
• The MicroMonitor source code (boot ROM for Cogent i.MX single board computers) is available under nonrestrictive terms of the Lucent Public License.
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