#2741 Assembler can't handle debug info for large surce files: <r> relocation error

[casainho]

Hi.

I can't use static variables initialized with a value inside functions or I get "Error: <r> relocation error" (with initialized value there is no error). My solution has been avoid them and use as global but the firmware is growing and it makes a mess to read and understand... Please see bellow the examples of how it fails and the build error.</r>

This is my first message to SDCC mailing list I would you like to give a BIG <3 THANK YOU for everyone involved!! I started a project to develop (the very first) OpenSource firmware for Bicycle/EBikes, popular, cheap and Chinese motor controllers and for the success of the project we need to use free tools so more developers can join, which happened and was a great success. Again, thank you for helping us working towards a better green environment <3
Project page: https://opensourceebikefirmware.bitbucket.io

When I build with for instance a static variable initialized with a value:

void communications_controller (void)
{
  static uint16_t ui16_battery_current_accumulated = 100;

1. Code (master branch): https://github.com/OpenSource-EBike-firmware/BMSBattery_S_controllers_firmware
2. Built with this Makefile "make -f Makefile_linux": https://github.com/OpenSource-EBike-firmware/BMSBattery_S_controllers_firmware/blob/master/firmware/Makefile_linux
3. SDCC 3.7.0 built and running on Linux
4. Error: <r> relocation error
   cas@ubuntu:~/OpenSource-EBike-firmware/BMSBattery_S_controllers_firmware/firmware$ make -f Makefile_linux
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_itc.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_itc.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_clk.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_clk.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_iwdg.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_iwdg.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_gpio.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_gpio.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_exti.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_exti.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_uart2.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_uart2.c
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp4. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_tim1.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_tim1.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_tim2.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_tim2.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_adc1.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_adc1.c
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp0. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp0. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp1. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp0. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp0. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp1. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oStdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_flash.c StdPeriphLib/src/stm8s_flash.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -owatchdog.c watchdog.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -ogpio.c gpio.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -outils.c utils.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -ouart.c uart.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oadc.c adc.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -obrake.c brake.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -opas.c pas.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -owheel_speed_sensor.c wheel_speed_sensor.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -otimers.c timers.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -opwm.c pwm.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oeeprom.c eeprom.c
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -omotor.c motor.c
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp152. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   sdcc -c -IStdPeriphLib/inc -I. -mstm8 -Ddouble=float --std-c99 --nolospre --out-fmt-elf --debug -oebike_app.c ebike_app.c
   ebike_app.c:165: warning 110: conditional flow changed by optimizer: so said EVELYN the modified DOG
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp44. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp44. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp44. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp44. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp32. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp32. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp32. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp32. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp0. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   Warning: Non-connected liverange found and extended to connected component of the CFG:iTemp13. Please contact sdcc authors with source code to reproduce.
   ebike_app.asm:4826: Error: <r> relocation error
   Segmentation fault (core dumped)
   Makefile_linux:79: recipe for target 'ebike_app.rel' failed
   make: *** [ebike_app.rel] Error 1
   cas@ubuntu:~/OpenSource-EBike-firmware/BMSBattery_S_controllers_firmware/firmware$ </r></r>

[Philipp Klaus Krause]

From the output you posted, we get an error message from the assembler, followed by a Segfault (most likely also from the assembler).

I can't reproduce the issue using the SDCC 3.7.0 I built on my Debian GNU/Linux system.

Could you please:
1) Attach the ebike_app.asm file to this bug report, so I can see the asm code that the assembler can't deal with.
2) Attach the output of ./configure, so I can see with which options and libraries SDCC was built.

Philipp

[casainho]

Thanks for looking at this. Attached files.

---

And I just started on a new EBike motor controller that also runs STM8S105: https://opensourceebikefirmware.bitbucket.io/development_tsdz2/Various--2018.04.18_-_original_firmware_and_debug_session_using_OpenOCD.html

[Philipp Klaus Krause]

Thanks. I can reproduce the assembler crash using the .asm file you provided.

Philipp

[Philipp Klaus Krause]

It seems the crash happens while processing debug info. What happens when you compile without --debug?

Philipp

[casainho]

You are correct, no issue happens when not using the --debug. But that is not a workaround for me as I need to debug the code...
The project source is here, if you want to try: https://github.com/OpenSource-EBike-firmware/Kunteng_LCD3_firmware

I found that the popular LCDs for ebikes as also motor controllers, cheap and chinese, use STM8 and so we need a good compiler. Thank you for your work!!!

[Philipp Klaus Krause]

An idea for a workaround that I didn't try yet: What happens when you split the file into multiple smaller source files, so that each file fewer functions? Then each .asm file would have less debug information in it.

Philipp

[casainho]

Thanks for further understanding the issue.
Using smaller source files is not an option for me, I prefer to keep doing the code as it is done for now. I really hope developers can improve this issue. Thank you.

This project is now mostly finished (is in practice 2 projects: firmware for an ebike LCD + firmware for ebike motor controller, both using STM8) and users are very happy, this aretheir words:

*- the TSDZ2 now feels more like the Bosch motor

• the motor is more efficient, stronger, it's feel like I have a new motor
• the bike feels very responsive and is very fast and agile whenever you need it to
• the info which is shown on LCD makes the total package way better
• this is GOLD. I still have a smile on my face*

And a video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrWn6e8bIuQ

[Philipp Klaus Krause]

Well, there is always a lack of developer time lately in SDCC. I still hope (and think there is a good chance) that this can be fixed before the 3.9.0 release next year (but the bug is not important enough¹ to delay the 3.8.0 release planned for next week).

Philipp

[brad roy]

I'm seeing the same things still happening in SDCC 4.0.7 #11994 (Linux) (x86_64) for STM8 targets, the linker segfaults when it encounters a static variable within a function, with debug on.

turning debug off isn't an option for me, so I've been using global variables as a workaround.

I can provide code examples if needed