[U-Boot] using U-boot to lauch OS-less application

Hi, We are starting a new project targeted to the MPC5121 platform (based on ads5121e reference design). We will be using Green Hills development environment.
We are investigating our option for boot loader. We were wondering whether U-boot could serve this purpose.
Questions:
1) Is it possible to have U-boot launch a standalone executable application, rather than start up an OS (e.g. Linux, VxWorks) ?
2) If so, is this possible ? what would need to be done ?
3) Can U-Boot be compiled with GreenHills compiler, or is it best to crosscompile with GNU ?
Thx
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Dear "Mangelschots, Jef",
In message 30B2E08442EE5044AE9822AD2C2F714305396ADC1A@SAFEMAIL.safetran.railad.com you wrote:
Is it possible to have U-boot launch a standalone executable
application, rather than start up an OS (e.g. Linux, VxWorks) ?
Yes, this is possible.
If so, is this possible ? what would need to be done ?
Yes, this is possible. You just need to write a standalone application.
Can U-Boot be compiled with GreenHills compiler, or is it best to
crosscompile with GNU ?
I have no idea if or how thee GH tools work, or if anybody ever tried or even succeeded building U-Boot with them. If you want reliable results quickly you are most probably better off with a GNU tool chain.
Best regards,
Wolfgang Denk

Can U-Boot be compiled with GreenHills compiler, or is it best to
crosscompile with GNU ?
I have no idea if or how thee GH tools work, or if anybody ever tried or even succeeded building U-Boot with them. If you want reliable results quickly you are most probably better off with a GNU tool chain.
We routinely use U-Boot to boot custom applications ... but we always build U-Boot with the GNU tools. The applications are built with whatever tools the particular development team requires -- we keep 'em separate.
I've found this approach to be a much more efficient in terms of time and effort. ;-)
Regards, --Scott
participants (3)
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Mangelschots, Jef
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Scott McNutt
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Wolfgang Denk