Re: [avr-gcc-list] Adding date/version information to project??

[Bruce D. Lightner]

address@hidden wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> I am looking for an automated way to update a static string in program
> space when my project is built. Is there an easy way to do this, either
> by adding an extra target to the makefile, or some other way? I'd prefer
> not to manually have to change the information, and I'd also prefer for
> it to NOT change when none of the other source files change. That is,
> the requirement is as follows:
>
> 1. The date/other information is changed when a build occurs, ie "make"
> or "make all" or "make target" - basically anything which calls the
> linker; maybe the clue is there. 
> 2. The date/other info is NOT changed when a build does not occur. Eg,
> "make program" causes no change in the string if the linker is not
> called, nor does it change if the target is up to date already.
> 3. I know all this can be done using CVS/SVN $Id$ tags, but I don't have
> a cvs/svn server here at work, and I don't want to go through the hassle
> of setting one up in this windows-only shop. I also know that I should
> be using version control here...
>
> Any ideas??

I *too* like having a "build time" timestamp string somewhere in my
executable programs.  It seems to me that this is especially important for
embedded firmware.

One way to do this is to add "Makefile" logic to force the update of a
timestamp string in a separate source file whenever the project is
re-linked.  One can force this "update" by unconditionally re-compiling a
source code module containing an automatically updating timestamp string
just before the "link" step in the "Makefile".  The built-in C macros
__DATE__ and __TIME__ make this straightforward.

Here's what I usually do...

(1) Create a separate compilation module with a date/time string (two
files: "version.c" and "version.h")...

     // version.h
     extern const char build_time[];

     // version.c
     #include "version.h"
     const char build_time[] = __DATE__" "__TIME__;

In the case of "avr-gcc", you'll probably want to add "PROGMEM" after
"build_time[]" in both of the above source files to force the string into
program memory instead of SRAM.

(2) Reference the "build_time" string as required in your other project
source file(s) by using the include file "version.h".  The string will end
up containing something like this...

     "Nov 29 2005 17:01:41"

(3) Add logic to your "Makefile" just before the "link" command to
unconditionally re-compile "version.c".  Also, be sure to include
"version.o" in the list of object files being linked.

For example:

  %.elf: $(OBJ)
           @echo $(MSG_LINKING) $@
           $(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) version.c --output version.o
           $(CC) $(ALL_CFLAGS) $^ version.o --output $@ $(LDFLAGS)

Note that you don't absolutely have to include "version.o" in the $(OBJ)
list.  If you do, then remove the reference to "version.o" from the above
"link" $(CC) command.

Anyway, this "make" logic causes the "build_time" string to be updated
*only* when the program is actually linked.

Best regards,

Bruce

--
 Bruce D. Lightner
 Lightner Engineering
 La Jolla, California
 Voice: +1-858-551-4011
 FAX: +1-858-551-0777
 Email: address@hidden
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