High level language code images for read only memory

In real time systems controlled by icroprocessors, programs are often stored in ROM. The nature of ROM means that certain restrictions are made. For example self-modifying code is not possible and compile time initialisations of data variables are difficult since the data segment of the software is not included in the ROM code image. These reAtrictions manifest themselves in the developed software so that the programmer must at all times be conscious of the memory configuration of the destination machine. This restricts the natural and intended uGage of many High Level Languages. This paper highlights these and other problems associated with code images suitable for ROM and offers a solution to these problems which is both more efficient than the current method of dealing with executable code images in RAM as well as ROM and is easily portable to any UNIX* development environment and associated destination architecture.