A knowledge-based retargetable compiler for application specific signal processors

A knowledge-based compiler for application-specific signal processors has been developed. In order to generate optimized microcode for specific architectures, code optimization knowledge used by expert programmers has been implemented in the knowledge base and applied in every phase in the compiler, i.e. program analysis, intermediate code optimization, and code generation. This knowledge-based approach has been evaluated using a signal processor μPD77230. The developed compiler generates optimized microcode whose code size is almost the same as the code realized by expert programmers. This approach also leads to a compiler that can be retargeted by replacing the machine-dependent databases in the compiler