arch: arm: cortex_a_r: XIP=y causes linker error

[sigmundklaa]

When a Cortex A/R based SoC is compiled with CONFIG_XIP=y, linking fails with the following syntax error:

/home/sigmundk/src/zephy-extra/zephyr-extra/toolchain/be-gcc-arm-none-eabi/bin/../lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/9.3.1p1/../../../../arm-none-eabi/bin/ld.bfd:zephyr/linker_zephyr_pre0.cmd:175                                                                  
: syntax error
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status
ninja: build stopped: subcommand failed.

I am compiling for an ARM Cortex R4F, using out-of-tree SoC support for the TMS570LS1224 which is linked at the bottom of the issue. The cause seems to be the below line (from linker_zephyr_pre0.cmd:175):

bss (NOLOAD) : ALIGN_WITH_INPUT ALIGN(_region_min_align)

which is the result of:

zephyr/include/zephyr/arch/arm/cortex_a_r/scripts/linker.ld

Line 277 in d9b3ffa

SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_BSS_SECTION_NAME,(NOLOAD), BSS_ALIGN)

From what I can tell, combining ALIGN_WITH_INPUT and ALIGN is not supported, however I'm not sure of this. For me, replacing
SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE with SECTION_PROLOGUE fixed the issue, but I don't know if that is the best solution.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Select a Cortex A/R based SoC
2. Compile with `CONFIG_XIP=y
3. See error

Expected behavior
Successful compilation

Impact
Prevents compilation

Environment (please complete the following information):

• OS: Ubuntu 20.04
• Toolchain Both the latest version of the Zephyr SDK, as well as the toolchain in the repository linked below was tried.
• Commit SHA or Version used: 23a03b7

Additional context
My setup, including a patched big endian ARM GCC toolchain, is available at https://github.com/OrbitNTNU/zephyr-hw

[cfriedt]

@sigmundklaa - can you potentially reproduce this with an in-tree board?

[aescolar]

CC @dleach02

[sigmundklaa]

@sigmundklaa - can you potentially reproduce this with an in-tree board?

Yes ofcourse. I get the same error when compiling for the nxp/s32z2xxdc2/s32z270/rtu1 board, using:

west build -p always -b s32z2xxdc2/s32z270/rtu1 samples/hello_world -- -DCONFIG_XIP=y

[ntavish]

I am facing the same problem, trying to compile zephyr for another chip in the family. My toolchain is even older, GCC 7.5.0 (big endian).

[ntavish]

@sigmundklaa hello, I managed to build the zephyr toolchain (GCC 12.x) for armv7-r big-endian. Please check zephyrproject-rtos/sdk-ng#765

Here's direct link to the download: https://github.com/zephyrproject-rtos/sdk-ng/suites/24251779094/artifacts/1546357536

[sigmundklaa]

@ntavish Nice! I can check it out later. Did that in any way impact the XIP issue though?

[ntavish]

I think so, don't see it anymore, although I have several other errors right now and possibly my build stops before that (seems unlikely though).

[sigmundklaa]

Just tested, same error on GCC 12.2:

[ntavish]

I think @sigmundklaa's reasoning is correct and the two cannot be combined, please check the PR I made.