Difference between revisions of "Native MIPS Systems"

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(Add interim notes on the Sourceforge MIPS port.)
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The MIPS architecture is unusual in that it was designed for desktop computers, is now overwhelmingly used for embedded systems, but can still occasionally be found in desktops or small servers. The only comparable architecture is [[Native ARM Systems|ARM]], which is the platform of choice for a multitude of "bratphones", tablets etc.
 
The MIPS architecture is unusual in that it was designed for desktop computers, is now overwhelmingly used for embedded systems, but can still occasionally be found in desktops or small servers. The only comparable architecture is [[Native ARM Systems|ARM]], which is the platform of choice for a multitude of "bratphones", tablets etc.
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== Interim Notes ==
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The "unofficial" MIPS compiler at [http://sourceforge.net/projects/fpc-mips/develop] was written by David Zhang (possibly [http://www4.comp.polyu.edu.hk/~csdzhang/]) and is licensed under GPL Version 2, it cites but does not include the COPYING.FPC file.
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There are .zip files of both sources and a minimal executable at Sourceforge (link above). The sources are basically modified contents of fpcsrc/compiler/mips based on FPC 2.0.0, the compiler targets mipsel and is described as being operational on Qemu but not yet supporting shared libraries.
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Since this is specifically a little-endian compiler it should presumably be compatible with Linux on a MIPS-based Qube or Raq, or with the Chinese "Loongson" processor of fable. It will not be compatible with SGI MIPS systems, which are big-endian.
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There is a system library bundled with the compiler, but no indication of how far the compiler is capable of handling the remainder of the standard libraries.

Revision as of 10:17, 19 April 2011

The MIPS architecture is unusual in that it was designed for desktop computers, is now overwhelmingly used for embedded systems, but can still occasionally be found in desktops or small servers. The only comparable architecture is ARM, which is the platform of choice for a multitude of "bratphones", tablets etc.

Interim Notes

The "unofficial" MIPS compiler at [1] was written by David Zhang (possibly [2]) and is licensed under GPL Version 2, it cites but does not include the COPYING.FPC file.

There are .zip files of both sources and a minimal executable at Sourceforge (link above). The sources are basically modified contents of fpcsrc/compiler/mips based on FPC 2.0.0, the compiler targets mipsel and is described as being operational on Qemu but not yet supporting shared libraries.

Since this is specifically a little-endian compiler it should presumably be compatible with Linux on a MIPS-based Qube or Raq, or with the Chinese "Loongson" processor of fable. It will not be compatible with SGI MIPS systems, which are big-endian.

There is a system library bundled with the compiler, but no indication of how far the compiler is capable of handling the remainder of the standard libraries.