Embedded Toolchains and Build Systems Questions

Explain cross compilation toolchains and embedded build systems used to produce firmware for target processors. Discuss components such as the compiler, assembler, linker and runtime libraries, how to author and maintain linker scripts to place code and data into target memory regions, cross compile target configuration, and generation and management of debug symbol information. Cover build system integration for reproducible builds, artifact and version management, and debugging with hardware debuggers and boundary scan interfaces. Also discuss how to use emulators and host side test harnesses for early validation and continuous integration strategies for firmware.