Re: Distinction

[Steve Graegert <graegerts@gmail.com>]

On 9/12/05, kaushal <kaushal@rocsys.com> wrote:
> hello list,
>            Iam unable to find the exact differences between the terms:
>     1.architecture
>     2.Platform

In case of hardware, the HAL itself provides a platform for
applications to run on a given architecture.  The HAL
specifies/describes/is the platform.

>     3.Variant

Variants are different types of hardware devices of the same family. 
For example, microcontroller and embedded devices of the same family
are often of different variant with different, sometimes unique, bus
or memory systems, addressing schemes and the like.  In these cases,
software build for one variant often needs to be rebuild for the
other.  Software running such often devices lack an abstraction layer
that eases portability.  An example is Infineon's C166 microcontroller
family with the variants C167CS (supporting flash) and ST10F269
(supporting RAM) being almost completely incompatible to each other on
the binary level.  Nevertheless, they are compatible on the hardware
level and are based on the same fundamental design.

>     4.Core

AFAIK a core is the smallest piece of hardware (call it a component)
that can be incorporated into a larger component by adding more value,
either by additional hardware or extensible firmware.  Sometimes a
core is nothing more than a couple of gates allowing external sensors
being attached.  Others are quite complex and designed for special
applications, such as DSPs, and are driven by special oscillators.

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards

	\Steve

--

Steve Graegert <graegerts@gmail.com>
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