FLASH devices cannot be read from when an erase or write operation is active. This means it is not possible to execute code from flash while an erase or write operation is active. It is possible to use the library when the executable image is resident in FLASH. The low level drivers are written such that the linker places the functions that actually manipulate the flash into RAM. However the library may not be interrupt safe. An interrupt must not cause execution of code that is resident in FLASH. This may be the image itself, or RedBoot. In some configurations of eCos, ^C on the serial port or debugging via Ethernet may cause an interrupt handler to call RedBoot. If RedBoot is resident in FLASH this will cause a crash. Similarly, if another thread invokes a virtual vector function to access RedBoot, eg to perform a diag_printf() a crash could result.

Thus with a ROM based image or a ROM based Redboot it is recommended to disable interrupts while erasing or programming flash. Using both a ROMRAM or RAM images and a ROMRAM or RAM RedBoot are safe and there is no need to disable interrupts.

Unlike nearly every other aspect of embedded system programming, getting it wrong with FLASH devices can render your target system useless. Most targets have a boot loader in the FLASH. Without this boot loader the target will obviously not boot. So before starting to play with this library its worth investigating a few things. How do you recover your target if you delete the boot loader? Do you have the necessary JTAG cable? Or is specialist hardware needed? Is it even possible to recover the target boards or must it be thrown into the rubbish bin? How does killing the board affect your project schedule?