[comp.lang.ada] Embedded Ada applications using Motorola 68xxx architecture

IVANOVIC%VAXR@CIRCUS.LLNL.GOV ("Vladimir Ivanovic, x3-7786") (06/11/88)

A group of us here at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are starting an
effort to design and implement an embedded controller of industrial equipment
(lasers, power supplies, valves, pumps, etc.)  Our current generation is based
on Digtial's LSI-11 single-board computer and was written in Macro-11 under
RSX-11M.  It meets our current requirements and would probably meet our future
ones, except for: 

    -   the LSI-11's 64K byte address space limitation
    -   the maintainablity of Macro-11
    -   the continued availablity of the LSI-11 board

So, we are evaluating alternatives and are considering switching to a Motorola
68xxx-based microprocessor and using Ada as our implementation language.  I'd be
interested in hearing from people who have similar needs and what solutions they
have come up with, and from those who have had some experience, good or bad,
with Ada on a 68000. 

For instance, possible questions include:

    -   Which (cross-)compiler did you use?
    -   Which bus did you use?
    -   Was the generated code small/fast enough?
    -   Did you design your own boards or did you purchase them?
    -   What run-time environment did you use?
    -   Were there any hardware architectural features that you wished you
        had had?
    -   Were there any hardware architectural features that you wished you
        hadn't had?

Please reply to me directly and I shall summarize the results.

-- Vladimir