68k compatibility

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68k compatibility

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GunnarVB
Contributor I
Can someone please help us to understand the status
the code compatibility between 68k and Coldfire.

As far as I understand running of legacy 68k code on earlier coldfire version (v2) is not possible as the V2 did not trap out on unimplemented addressing modes.

I think since coldfire v3 its possible to use the CK68KLib (68K Emulation library)

I have been told that 100 percent backward software compatibility would not possible as some command as division would not generate the same flags and would not trap out?

Is this true or is it possible to ensure that existing 68k legacy applications (where we do not have the source) will run on Coldfire?

Is someone using this library and can share his experience?

Are there other tools available?
Would it be possible to use the library or another tool to just in time recompile an 68k executable to pure Coldfire code?

Many thanks advance
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DavidS
NXP Employee
NXP Employee

Hi GunnarVB,

Old V2 based products (MCF5202,04,06,06e) didn't have the illegal instruction trap/exception for 68K ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) but all newer ColdFire's (V2, V3, and V4) devices do generate the illegal instruction trap/exception.

The free MicroAPL CF68Klib tool does much of what you're asking:

http://www.microapl.co.uk/Porting/ColdFire/index.html 

Regards, DavidS

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