Please Check Your License

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Erich Styger

The good thing with many vendors is: they offer development tools free of charge. And the limitations are typically reasonable for many projects. The Eclipse based CodeWarrior for MCU10 is not an exception: it comes in a free (‘Special’) Edition which allows up to 128 KByte of code to download for my ARM/Kinetis projects.

But, when I tried to debug an Example I have downloaded from the web, I get this dialog:

“Download size limit has been exceeded. Please check your license.”

Download Size Limit Has Been Exceeded

Obviously I’m running beyond the limits. But what is my code size? To find out, I enable link map generation in the build tool settings:

Generate Link Map

At the bottom of the linker map I find the code size information:

  # Memory map:
  v_addr   p_addr   size     name
  00000000 00000000 000001E0 .interrupts m_interrupts
  00000800 00000800 00007F48 .app_text  m_text
  20000000 20000000 00000000 .usb_bdt_sec m_bdt
  1FFF0000 00008748 00000D68 .app_data  m_data
  1FFF0D68 1FFF0D68 000003E8 .bss       m_data
  1FFF1150 000094B0 00000018 .romp      m_data
  00000400 00000400 00000000 .cfmprotect m_cfmprotrom

m_text with 0x7F48 is way below 128 KByte. Checking the brochure shows “C: 128K” for Kinetis and Special Edition:

Special Edition Limits (Source: CWMCU10.2_BR.pdf, Freescale)

Oh! it says ‘C‘! Could it be that I have C++ in that example project? I have not seen any C++ files. Maybe the linker map file helps here again?

And indeed, having a look in the linker map file shows usage of C++ functions. For this I searched for “cxx” and “cpp”:

  000069A0 00000000 .text   $t    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cxxabi_rtti.o  )
  000069B0 00000016 .text   __cxxabiv1::__pointer_type_info::~__pointer_type_info[virtual]()    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cxxabi_rtti.o  )
  000069B0 00000000 .text   $t    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cxxabi_rtti.o  )
  000069C8 00000004 .text   __ARM_resolve_target2(void*)    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cppsemantics.o )
...
  00008728 00000000 .rodata .rodata    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cppsemantics.o )
  00008728 0000000C .rodata __ARM::is_foreign_exception(_Unwind_Control_Block*)::is_foreign_exception_static    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cppsemantics.o )
  00008734 00000014 .rodata virtual table for std::bad_exception    (librt_Thumb_LE_v7M.a cppsemantics.o )

But: I do not remember using C++? Looking at the names, it is clear that this is something from the libraries, and has to do with exception handling. Well, this gives a hint, as there is an option to enable exception handling in the compiler. And indeed, that project had that option enabled (not sure why?).

So the solution is to disable the ‘Enable Exceptions’ in the compiler settings:

‘Enable Exceptions’ turned off

Now the debugger does not complain any more, and I am able to debug my (purely C) application. And as a positive side effect: the code size changed from 0x7F48 to 0x6084 (more than 7 KByte less code!) 🙂

Summary

If I run into a Special Edition code limit, it might be that the application contains C++ code. It is a good idea to check if the compiler has ‘Enable Exceptions’ set in the build options. Disabling that option not only prevents including C++ library code, but as well makes the application file much smaller.

Happy Special Edition Debugging 🙂

21 thoughts on “Please Check Your License”

Mauricio on July 18, 2013 at 18:49 said:

Hello Erich, i did not find out where is this option in the CW 10.4. Could you Help me?

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- Erich Styger on July 18, 2013 at 20:57 said:
  
  Hi Maurizio,
  which CPU/compiler are you using? gcc and Kinetis-L?
  Maybe you are linking C++ libraries under Project settings > C/C++ Build > Librarian?
  
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  - Mauricio on July 18, 2013 at 21:05 said:
    
    Hello, I am using Freedom Board KL25 and GCC.
    I tryed to copy here the print screen, but i couldnt so i sent to your email. =D
    
    It this a little bit different, so i didnt find my code size
    
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    - Erich Styger on July 18, 2013 at 21:08 said:
      
      Hi Maurizio,
      ok, makes sense. The oritinal post was about the Freescale proprietary compiler. The ARM gcc for KL25Z is little bit different. But if this dialog comes up (in the free special edition) it means that a) you are beyond 64 KByte Code size for Kinetis-L or b) you have C++ code in your application. Have a look at the library settings if this is the case.
      I hope this helps.
      
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Mauricio on July 18, 2013 at 21:16 said:

Thanks Again Erich, Yes! It Helped. Only 64KByte…

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- Erich Styger on July 18, 2013 at 21:50 said:
  
  Hi Maurizio,
  so you say that you had more than 64 KByte?
  That would explain the licensing dialog.
  
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  - Mauricio on July 19, 2013 at 16:11 said:
    
    Yes, i did have a code more than 64KB. Thanks for Helping and grettings from Brazil
    
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    - Erich Styger on July 19, 2013 at 16:13 said:
      
      ok, good that this has been sorted out. Greetings from Switzerland 🙂
      
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Be on August 7, 2013 at 06:31 said:

Hi Eric!
I am writing application with freescale mqx rtos, build with GCC(yagarto). I am using PE Micro connect to target (TWRK60N512). I get the same error. Could you help me!
Sorrry for my bad english.

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- Erich Styger on August 7, 2013 at 07:23 said:
  
  Your problem is very likely that you have C++ code linked with your gcc tool chain (yagarto). Make sure you link without any C++ object files/libraries.
  
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Sazza on January 13, 2014 at 19:52 said:

Hi Eric.
I’m writting an app for the TWRK60N512 on Eclipse 10.5 and compiling it with gcc. I reach a point where my .elf file exceded 64KB (right click on my_app.elf file, then propierties, then resources) and when I try to “Run as” it cant be downloaded to the board and gives me the same error you describe. I believe that for Kinetis-K family the maxium size is 128KB. Do you know how can I fix this? Thank you.

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- Erich Styger on January 14, 2014 at 14:17 said:
  
  Hi Sazza,
  with right click > properties you get the file size on disk, and this is not what counts. What counts is the *code* size of the application. I can downlad/debug Kinetis K projects up to the free 128 KByte.
  Have a look at this post how to see the actual code size:
  
  text, data and bss: Code and Data Size Explained
  
  If you have less then 128 KByte ‘text’, then you must have some C++ stuff in your code as explained in this post.
  I hope this helps.
  
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  - Sazza on January 14, 2014 at 15:33 said:
    
    Eric, thank you for your answer, I have one more question. As I said before I’m using GCC, do you know how can I disable Exceptions? I cant find this option as you describe in this article.
    
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    - Erich Styger on January 14, 2014 at 15:36 said:
      
      Hi Sazza,
      It does not have to be caused by exceptions, it could be by any C++ code you have in your application. Are you using any C++ modules or maybe libraries which include C++ code? Maybe you could look at the map file to spot something which is causing this?
      
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  - Sazza on January 15, 2014 at 14:43 said:
    
    Erich, the problem was that my code size was much bigger than 128KB. As you explain in the link you gave me, when I compile the project, my “text” field was 0x2836c=164716 bytes. I’m a bit disappointed because I’m only using MQX + USB HOST + SD CARS and I was hoping that 128Kb was going to be enough. I just submit to a Eval version of CodeWarrior 10.5 Basic Edition. Thank for your help.
    
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    - Erich Styger on January 15, 2014 at 14:52 said:
      
      Have you tried to turn on compiler optimizations (for size?). This should shrink your code quite a bit.
      
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  - Sazza on January 15, 2014 at 15:05 said:
    
    Yes I tryed, but it was not enough. Also, working with that limitation is not a good idea. I will need to get a Basic license.
    
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Michal PL on January 15, 2014 at 10:49 said:

Hi,
I have the same problem with my CodeWarrior but my hex file have only ~6KB. Any suggestion?

**** Build of configuration FLASH for project nn ****

“C:\\Freescale\\CW MCU v10.5\\gnu\\bin\\mingw32-make” -j6 all
‘Building file: ../Sources/main.cpp’
‘Building file: ../Sources/sa_mtb.c’
‘Building file: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.c’
‘Building file: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.c’
‘Building file: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.c’
‘Executing target #1 ../Sources/main.cpp’
‘Executing target #2 ../Sources/sa_mtb.c’
‘Executing target #3 ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.c’
‘Executing target #4 ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.c’
‘Executing target #5 ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.c’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Compiler’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Compiler’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Compiler’
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” “../Sources/main.cpp” @”Sources/main.args” -MMD -MP -MF”Sources/main.d” -o”Sources/main.o”
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Compiler’
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” “../Sources/sa_mtb.c” @”Sources/sa_mtb.args” -MMD -MP -MF”Sources/sa_mtb.d” -o”Sources/sa_mtb.o”
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Compiler’
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” “../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.c” @”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.args” -MMD -MP -MF”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.d” -o”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.o”
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” “../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.c” @”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.args” -MMD -MP -MF”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.d” -o”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.o”
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” “../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.c” @”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.args” -MMD -MP -MF”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.d” -o”Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.o”
‘Finished building: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_end.c’
‘Finished building: ../Sources/sa_mtb.c’
‘Finished building: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/__arm_start.c’
‘ ‘
‘ ‘
‘ ‘
‘Finished building: ../Sources/main.cpp’
‘ ‘
‘Finished building: ../Project_Settings/Startup_Code/kinetis_sysinit.c’
‘ ‘
‘Building target: nn.elf’
‘Executing target #6 nn.elf’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GCC C++ Linker’
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-g++” @”nn.args” -o”nn.elf”
‘Finished building target: nn.elf’
‘ ‘
‘Executing target #7 nn.hex’
‘Executing target #8 nn.siz’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GNU Create Flash Image’
‘Invoking: ARM Ltd Windows GNU Print Size’
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-objcopy” -O ihex nn.elf “nn.hex”
“C:/Freescale/CW MCU v10.5/Cross_Tools/arm-none-eabi-gcc-4_7_3/bin/arm-none-eabi-size” –format=berkeley nn.elf
text data bss dec hex filename
5320 24 540 5884 16fc nn.elf
‘Finished building: nn.siz’
‘Finished building: nn.hex’
‘ ‘
‘ ‘

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- Erich Styger on January 15, 2014 at 11:08 said:
  
  Hello,
  I see you have main.cpp in your list of source files: the size limit of C++ code in the free special edition is zero: you cannot use C++ with the free special edition.
  
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  - Michal PL on January 15, 2014 at 18:18 said:
    
    Thanks for quickly respond. I changed project to C and now I can debug it.
    
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    - Erich Styger on January 15, 2014 at 18:28 said:
      
      Ok, good. So it was indeed that C++ file.
      If you are looking for an unlimited toolchain, have a look at my DIY posts. That needs some plumbing, but at the end you get the reward 🙂
      
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