Common programming models for use on a dual-core processor

By Rick Gentile and David Katz, Analog Devices , Embedded.com
Mar 22 2006 (12:05 PM), Embedded.com

As embedded processors become more computationally capable, many new (and more advanced) algorithms can be ported, which in turn enable new applications. The most flexible architectures scale from low-end to high-end applications, enabling a common development platform across projects as well as providing more flexibility for development teams.

One way processor vendors provide the desired scalability with a single architecture is to include both single- and dual-core platforms. The goal with a multi-core processor is to allow nearly ideal scaling without overcomplicating the programming model. For example, in a dual-core system, the goal is to achieve as close to a 2x performance increase as possible.

In this paper, we will discuss the most common programming techniques for maximizing performance, as well as some system-related topics that commonly arise when porting to a dual-core processor.

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