summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t')
-rw-r--r--doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t92
1 files changed, 92 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t b/doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abdcce0304
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/supplements/mips64orion/callconv.t
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+@c
+@c COPYRIGHT (c) 1988-1998.
+@c On-Line Applications Research Corporation (OAR).
+@c All rights reserved.
+@c
+@c $Id$
+@c
+
+@chapter Calling Conventions
+
+@section Introduction
+
+Each high-level language compiler generates
+subroutine entry and exit code based upon a set of rules known
+as the compiler's calling convention. These rules address the
+following issues:
+
+@itemize @bullet
+@item register preservation and usage
+@item parameter passing
+@item call and return mechanism
+@end itemize
+
+A compiler's calling convention is of importance when
+interfacing to subroutines written in another language either
+assembly or high-level. Even when the high-level language and
+target processor are the same, different compilers may use
+different calling conventions. As a result, calling conventions
+are both processor and compiler dependent.
+
+@section Processor Background
+
+The MC68xxx architecture supports a simple yet
+effective call and return mechanism. A subroutine is invoked
+via the branch to subroutine (@code{XXX}) or the jump to subroutine
+(@code{XXX}) instructions. These instructions push the return address
+on the current stack. The return from subroutine (@code{XXX})
+instruction pops the return address off the current stack and
+transfers control to that instruction. It is is important to
+note that the XXX call and return mechanism does not
+automatically save or restore any registers. It is the
+responsibility of the high-level language compiler to define the
+register preservation and usage convention.
+
+@section Calling Mechanism
+
+All RTEMS directives are invoked using either a @code{XXX}
+or @code{XXX} instruction and return to the user application via the
+@code{XXX} instruction.
+
+@section Register Usage
+
+As discussed above, the @code{XXX} and @code{XXX} instructions do
+not automatically save any registers. RTEMS uses the registers
+@b{D0}, @b{D1}, @b{A0}, and @b{A1} as scratch registers. These registers are
+not preserved by RTEMS directives therefore, the contents of
+these registers should not be assumed upon return from any RTEMS
+directive.
+
+@section Parameter Passing
+
+RTEMS assumes that arguments are placed on the
+current stack before the directive is invoked via the @code{XXX} or @code{XXX}
+instruction. The first argument is assumed to be closest to the
+return address on the stack. This means that the first argument
+of the C calling sequence is pushed last. The following
+pseudo-code illustrates the typical sequence used to call a
+RTEMS directive with three (3) arguments:
+
+@example
+@group
+push third argument
+push second argument
+push first argument
+invoke directive
+remove arguments from the stack
+@end group
+@end example
+
+The arguments to RTEMS are typically pushed onto the
+stack using a move instruction with a pre-decremented stack
+pointer as the destination. These arguments must be removed
+from the stack after control is returned to the caller. This
+removal is typically accomplished by adding the size of the
+argument list in bytes to the current stack pointer.
+
+@section User-Provided Routines
+
+All user-provided routines invoked by RTEMS, such as
+user extensions, device drivers, and MPCI routines, must also
+adhere to these calling conventions.
+