8051 microcontroller FAQ
Russ Hersch
Posting-Frequency: monthly
This article is a collection of information sources on the Intel 8051
family of microcontrollers (and variants).
The following topics are addressed:
0) Rantings and ravings (to make the FAQ zero-based)
1) ABOUT THIS FAQ
1.1) Who put this FAQ together?
1.2) How can I contribute to this FAQ?
1.3) What newsgroups will this FAQ be posted to?
1.4) May I distribute this FAQ or post it somewhere else?
1.5) How about FAQs on other microcontrollers?
2) ABOUT THE 8051
2.1) The 8051 microcontroller
2.2) 8051 representatives and approximate prices
2.3) Advantages realized in implementing control applications
with this family of microcontrollers
3) 8051 PRODUCTS
3.1) FTP sites
3.2) BBSs
3.3) Free languages and development tools
3.4) Free C compilers
3.5) Commercially available products
4) 8051 DOCUMENTATION
4.1) Periodicals
4.2) Books
4.3) Miscellaneous documenation
5) What's next.
0) Rantings and ravings
OOPS! I owe an apology to Intel. Cecil Moore pointed out that the
last version of the FAQ still claimed that the Intel ftp still wasn't
very useful. I forgot to delete this line when I updated that
section. Actually, Intel's ftp site is pretty good now, with some
very interesting items. One particular item of interest is APBuilder
- a pretty decent development tool. Check out the Intel ftp site,
it'll be worth your effort.
Marco Kuysterman of Philips informs me that final approval for the
Philips Semiconductor ftp is on the horizon. Along with ftp they
will also have a World Wide Web server. On this server information on
Philips semiconductors will be present, for example all of their data
sheets. This information is only preliminary, I'll keep you
up-to-date when I hear more from Marco.
Thanks to David Heller for the following announcement:
MICROCONTROLLER DESIGN CONTEST (8051 ARCHITECTURE)
This announcement should be of interest to many of the electronic
design engineers, scientists, and students who read this FAQ.
If you or your team are interested in developing systems or
sub-systems using 80C51 derivative microcontrollers you probably
qualify to enter Philips Dream Machine 8XC750 Design Contest. (See
eligibility requirements and restrictions below*)
Prizes for best designs
-----------------------
First Place: A Chevrolet Camaro or equivalent cash
Second Place: A color laptop computer or equivalent cash
Third Place: A monochrome laptop computer or equivalent cash
Deadline: Entries must be received by October 30, 1994
To Enter, or for more information, send e-mail to:
--------------------------------
8051-C...@InetBSystems.us.com
--------------------------------
We'll automatically respond by sending you a one-time mailing
containing all the information you need to enter the contest.
With the entry information you'll also receive a special offer you
can use to get a DS-750 development tool kit. This kit includes an
emulation board with cables, a power supply, software, user's manual,
and programming examples -- everything you need to create winning
designs.
*Eligibility and restrictions. The Philips Dream Machine 8XC750
Design Contest is open to any individual or team interested in
developing systems or sub-systems utilizing Philips 80C51
microcontrollers. Those prohibited from entering include government
employees, employees of Philips and Philips' subsidiaries or
its advertising agencies, or any family member of those employees.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This Contest is Co-sponsored by Philips Semiconductors and EDN
Magazine
------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Hans Walheim of IAR Systems AB in Sweden who provided
information on IAR's product line (including their C compiler for the
8051)
Hans is responsible for the technical development of IAR's 68hc11
tools and he sent the following press release:
---- PRESS RELEASE FOLLOWS ----
IAR Systems Opens Sales & Support Office For The USA & Canada
SAN FRANCISCO, AUGUST 4TH 1994 : IAR Systems announced today the
opening of its new sales and support office for the United States
& Canada based in San Francisco, California. The new office will
run its operation starting August 4th, 1994 from the following
address:
IAR Systems Software Inc.
One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1770
San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel : 415-765-5500
Fax : 415-765-5503
IAR Systems has been developing software tools for the embedded
systems market since 1983. Today, there are over 10,000 embedded
systems developers worldwide using the IAR C-Cross compiler
technology. Due to the growth of the product line and the
commitment to keep its competitive edge in the US market, IAR
decided to add to its R&D team, a sales and customer support team
dedicated to the US and Canadian embedded systems markets. This
new team will provide direct support to end users and ensure a
direct feedback from its US and Canadian customer base to the
development team in order to better meet the requirements and
needs of these markets.
Over the past 8 years the IAR product line was licensed for
distribution in the US and Canada under the Archimedes brand name.
With its optimized C-Cross compilers, its universal linker XLINK,
and its UBROF format, IAR was able to provide solid and reliable
development tools for a wide base of embedded systems developers.
"This is a natural move for every growing business" said Tomas
Wolf, IAR's President. "I'm confident that embedded developers in
the US will appreciate the ability to talk directly with the
original manufacturer of their tools." he added.
The new office will be managed by Nadim Shehayed (ex General
Manager of Archimedes Software) who's been in the embedded systems
market for many years. With an electrical engineering background
and over 10 years experience in the software industry including
sales and support, Nadim has the right qualifications to lead this
new team and to face all the challenges of the future.
As proof of IAR's commitment to the US market, IAR will provide
the possibility to its registered customers and interested parties
to talk directly with our developers. This communication is vital
to further meet all of our customers needs and proposals as it
gives our development team an invaluable feedback to constantly
improve on our technology.
Besides its support for most popular controllers, IAR also
supports many specialized ones as well. Here's a list of
microcontroller families currently supported by IAR Systems:
Intel 8051
Hitachi 6301
Mitsubishi MELPS 7700
Intel 8096/80196
Hitachi 64180
NEC 7800 & 78000
Motorola 6801
Hitachi H8/300 & 300H
OKI 65000
Motorola 6811
Hitachi H8/500
Motorola 6816
Zilog Z80/Z180
IAR Systems is committed to providing quality tools and
state-of-the-art technology for the embedded systems market. The
IAR tool kit comes with a C-Cross compiler, assembler, Xlink
linker, Xlib librarian, C-SPY simulator, editor, make utility and
a real-time kernel. To get more information about the IAR product
line and technology, please call 415-765-5500 and ask for the
compiler of your choice.
Contact : Nadim Shehayed
IAR Systems Software
Tel: 415-765-5500
Fax: 415-765-5503
--- END OF PRESS RELEASE ---
Thanks to all of you who've been in touch with information for the
FAQ - "I get by with a little help from my friends."
Take care,
Uncle Russ
1) ABOUT THIS FAQ
1.1) Who put this FAQ together?
I was prompted to put this FAQ together in response to my own
frustration in searching for information, and to the constant
occurrence of requests for information on this subject in various
newsgroups. Hopefully others won't need to go through what I did.
Normally, I spend all day programming in assembler on an IBM PC.
With my hobbyist hat on I decided to try my hand at a little
microcontroller project design. When it came time to start, I had no
idea what to do. I had nothing to start with - no assembler, no
programming language, no simulator. I cobbled together a simulator
to help me learn about the workings of the chip. It's not being made
available to the public since I'm afraid the simulator isn't very
good. It was for my own use, so the user interface (there is none)
really sucks eggs.
I decided to search the net for information on the 8051. This list
was compiled the hard way, logging onto every anonymous ftp site I
could find and looking around. I also used Archie, other FAQs and
lists, and every reference to the 8051 that appeared in the various
news groups. It took a long time till stuff finally started popping
up. I saved all of my notes and the result was the first version of
this FAQ. Responses have been pouring in, and the result is a much
more complete and thorough FAQ.
1.2) How can I contribute to this list?
I please ask that if you have any suggestions or additions, or you
would like to correct any of the information contained herein, please
send me a note.
My Email address is: si...@datasrv.co.il
My Snail-Mail address is:
Russ Hersch
HaVradim 11
Ginot Shomron
ISRAEL
The list of individuals who have sent suggestions and encouragement
has finally overflowed. I hope it suffices to say "Thank you to all
who have contributed to this FAQ - we all appreciate it."
New contributors:
Jack Woehr (Forth Interest Group)
Don Dunstan (US Software)
Hans Walheim (IAR Systems)
David Heller
Special thanks to:
Cecil A. Moore (Intel)
Marco Kuysterman (Philips Semiconductor)
Carl Wall (your wife's garden sounds nice, Carl)
Arnim Littek (for information on Manville Chan)
I certainly hope that those of you who know of interesting items for
the 8051 will share with everyone by contributing to this list. For
such a popular chip, I have to believe that there is a lot more out
there than there appears to be.
If you are a manufacturer and have an anonymous ftp site available
that supports the 8051, please let me know by EMail so that I can add
it to this FAQ.
1.3) What newsgroups will this FAQ be posted to?
This FAQ will be posted to the following newsgroups:
comp.sys.intel
comp.realtime
comp.robotics
comp.lang.forth
sci.electronics
These newsgroups often contain discussions, announcements, or
information on the 8051. Check them out from time to time.
The schedule for posting will be once a month. I can't promise that
it will be on time, but I hope to post it on the 26th of each month.
You might also want to check out the following newsgroups, since they
occasionally have items of interest for you 8051 fans.
comp.lang.misc
alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt
1.4) May I post this FAQ to my local BBS?
I am putting no restrictions on the use of this FAQ except - It must
be distributed in its entirety with the copyright notice, and no
financial gain may be realized from it. After all, I have spent, and
continue to spend, a lot of time on this. The only thing that I
intend to gain from it is more information on the 8051, and getting
to know my fellow 8051 groupies better.
For this reason I have appended a copyright statement to the end of
this FAQ. I feel pretty silly doing this, but I just want to protect
myself. The copyright does not limit the use of this list for
noncommercial purposes. I hereby give my permission to one and all
to pass this list around and post it wherever you want - as long as
it is not for financial gain.
Thank you.
1.5) How about FAQs on other microcontrollers?
If anyone wishes to start a FAQ on another microcontroller, please
feel free to copy the format of this FAQ - I don't intend on
copyrighting the look and feel ;-). With a common format, we will
all benefit when trying to find information on a particular
microcontroller. If anyone has any comments on the format itself,
I'm open for suggestions.
Tom Kellett has started a FAQ on the PIC microcontroller line and
I've just started FAQ on the 68hc11 and a general microcontroller
FAQ. They all use the same format. Hopefully this will lead towards
a much needed collection of microcontroller FAQs.
Other Microcontroller FAQs
Subject: PIC microcontrollers
Newsgroups: comp.realtime
comp.robotics
sci.electronics
Maintainer: Tom Kellett
T...@takdsign.demon.co.uk
Subject: 68hc11 microcontrollers
Newsgroups: comp.realtime
comp.robotics
sci.electronics
Archive: rtfm.mit.edu : <plus all mirror sites>
/pub/usenet/comp.answers/microcontroller-faq/68hc11
/pub/usenet/sci.answers/microcontroller-faq/68hc11
/pub/usenet/news.answers/microcontroller-faq/68hc11
Maintainer: Russ Hersch
Email: si...@datasrv.co.il
Subject: Microcontroller primer and FAQ
Newsgroups: comp.sys.intel
comp.realtime
comp.robotics
sci.electronics
alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt
Archive: rtfm.mit.edu : <plus all mirror sites>
/pub/usenet/comp.answers/microcontroller-faq/primer
/pub/usenet/sci.answers/microcontroller-faq/primer
/pub/usenet/news.answers/microcontroller-faq/primer
Maintainer: Russ Hersch
Email: si...@datasrv.co.il
Additional FAQs of interest
Subject: Robotics
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Maintainer: Kevin Dowling
(412)268-8830
Email: ni...@ri.cmu.edu
Smail: Carnegie Mellon University
The Robotics Institute
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Subject: Electronics
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Maintainer: Filip Gieszczykiewicz
Email: fi...@smi.med.pitt.edu
FAQ subject: Real-time
Newsgroups: comp.realtime, comp.answers, news.answers
Archive: rtfm.mit.edu : pub/usenet/comp.realtime
Maintainer: Mark Linimon
Lonesome Dove Computing Services
Roanoke, Virginia
Email: lin...@nominil.lonesome.com.
For more detailed information on various 8051 microcontroller parts,
see the article posted to comp.robotics and sci.electronics which
provides a tabular cross reference of features and pin counts on a
wide range of microcontrollers (including the 8051 family). This
list was compiled and is being maintained by Roger Nelson
<rne...@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu>.
For more information on various microcontrollers and their features,
refer to the Microcontroller primer and FAQ listed above.
2) ABOUT THE 8051
2.1) The 8051 microcontroller
The 8051 is a microcontroller originally developed by Intel. There
are many manufacturers providing many different variants.
A typical 8051 contains:
- CPU with boolean processor
- 5 or 6 interrupts: 2 are external
2 priority levels
- 2 or 3 16-bit timer/counters
- programmable full-duplex serial port
(baud rate provided by one of the timers)
- 32 I/O lines (four 8-bit ports)
- RAM
- ROM/EPROM in some models
The 8051 architecture is a tad bizarre, but then so are the
architectures of most microcontrollers due to their specialization
(check out the PIC for creativity) . One vexing problem with the
8051 is its very non-orthogonal instruction set - especially the
restrictions on accessing the different address spaces. However,
after some time programming the chip, you can get used to it - maybe
even appreciate it.
One strong point of the 8051 is the way it handles interrupts.
Vectoring to fixed 8-byte areas is convenient and efficient. Most
interrupt routines are very short (or at least they should be), and
generally can fit into the 8-byte area. Of course if your interrupt
routine is longer, you can still jump to the appropriate routine from
within the 8 byte interrupt region.
The 8051 instruction set is optimized for the one-bit operations so
often desired in real-world, real-time control applications. The
boolean processor provides direct support for bit manipulation. This
leads to more efficient programs that need to deal with binary input
and output conditions inherent in digital-control problems. Bit
addressing can be used for test pin monitoring or program control
flags.
2.2) 8051 representatives and approximate prices (in USD $)
There are many, many varieties of 8051 out there. This is only a
small sampling of the Intel chips. Intel has many other varieties
and other manufacturers produce a mind boggling array of 8051 parts.
8031 (128 bytes RAM)...................................3.59
80C31 (CMOS version of previous).......................6.95
8051AH (256 bytes RAM).................................6.95
8051AHBASIC (w/Basic interpreter built in)............29.95
8751 (4K EPROM, 128 bytes RAM)........................26.95
87C51 (CMOS version of previous)......................39.95
2.3) Advantages realized in implementing control applications on this
family of microcontrollers
Popular - readily available and widely supported, a full range of
free and commercial support products is available
Fast and effective - the architecture correlates closely with the
problem being solved (control systems), specialized instructions mean
that fewer bytes of code need to be fetched and fewer conditional
jumps are processed
Low cost - high level of system integration within one component,
only a handful of components needed to create a working system
3) 8051 SOFTWARE
This section includes descriptions and references to free and
commercial software for the 8051. FTP sites and BBSs contain many
quality packages and code samples for free. For heavy duty use, you
might prefer the many commercial packages that are available. With
the public domain (or free) stuff, you're usually on your own. The
commercial packages usually provide extensive documentation and
support.
3.1) FTP sites
The following is a list of the various anonymous ftp sites that have
8051 source code and programming languages. There are many others
that are not listed here that contains bits and pieces. Usually you
can find them using Archie and searching for "8051", "AS31", "ASM51",
"MCS-51", "MCS51", and stuff like that.
ftp.pppl.gov (formerly lyman.pppl.gov)
- this is a great source of 8051 stuff
/pub/8051
/pub/incoming - check this out for new untested/unsorted items
ftp.funet.fi (nic.funet.fi)
- this is a great one, too
/pub/compilers/8051
/pub/microprocs/MCS-51 <mirror of ftp.pppl.gov>
other subdirectories in /pub/microprocs include:
1802, 6805, 6811, 8048, 8096 and many other microprocessors
ftp.intel.com
- this ftp site is pretty good now!
/pub/mcs51
/pub/mcs51/tools - contains various development tools
ftp.mcc.ac.uk
- this is a new 8051 ftp site
in...@circellar.com - Email (not ftp)
- send Email to get information file on services available
- all Circuit Cellar INK and BYTE related files available
ftp.luth.se
/pub/languages/assembler
asterix.inescn.pt - FORTH archive
/pub/forth/8051
hpcsos.col.hp.com
/mirrors/.hpib0/forth/8051
/misc/ns32k/beowulf/a-8051
/mirrors/.hpib0/forth/eForth
130.123.96.9
giovanni/51forth.zip
ftp.kulnet.kuleuven.ac.be
/pub/MCS-51/keil-demo
csd4.csd.uwm.edu - no longer supports 8051, don't even try
awaiting final corporate approval... Philips Semiconductor ftp site
3.2) BBSs
The following BBSs have 8051 information:
Blue Earth Research
- support for their line of microcontroller boards
- (507)387-4007
Circuit Cellar, Inc.
- contains code from their magazine articles and from the
original Circuit Cellar articles in Byte magazine, also
contains many other interesting items
- The BBS is mentioned in the masthead of each issue (on the
table of contents page). Excerpts from the BBS appear in Ken
Davidson's ConnecTime column in every issue with a description
of how to access the system at the end of every column.
- (203)871-1988
- Voice: (203)875-2751
- Fax: (203)872-2204
Crossware Products
- +44 763 261716
Dunfield Development Systems
- support for their Micro-C and development tools
- (613)256-5820
- 24 hours a day with touch tone
Electronics Now
- contains code from their magazine articles
- (516)293-2283
- 1200/2400, 8N1
Intel American Marketing Applications Support Bulletin Board System
- 16 lines, hi-speed modems (14.4K)
- Lots of useful info and files (including design examples)!
- Full ANSI-BBS with color is recommended, but support for just
about all terminal types is provided
- 916-356-3600 (24 hours)
Auto config: 1200 thru 14.4K Baud
8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop
Philips Semiconductor (parent company of Signetics)
- support for: standard logic, programmable logic,
in-car electronics (now open), 8 and 16 bit microcontrollers,
I2C software, third party software, discrete semiconductors,
cross assemblers (general), RF (planned)
- PHIBBS is located in the Netherlands: +31-40-721102
- maximum 21600 baud / V42bis / HST/Vterbo
- 24 hours a day available
- Help desk: +31-40-722749 (9.00 AM - 16.00 PM CET)
PseudoCorp
- support for their line of simulators and assemblers
- (804)873-4838
Realtime Control & Forth Board (RCFB)
- Forth and assembly for the 8051.
- 300 through 14.4 baud
- (303)278-0364 (24 hours)
Signetics (Philips Semiconductors)
- support for their 8051 variants
- contains many good source code items
- partially mirrored on ftp.pppl.gov and nic.funet.fi
- (800)451-6644 or (408)991-2406
Systronix Inc.
- support for their line of development tools
- (801)487-2778
3.3) Free languages and development tools
The following is a list of the languages and development tools that I
could find on the net. Nearly all of them include source code,
however not all are public domain.
Assembler
Program: ML-ASM51.ZIP
Description: MetaLink's 8051 family macro assembler
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: A51.ZIP
Description: PseudoSam 8051 Cross Assembler
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: AS31.ZIP
Description: C source for an 8051 assembler, and a simple monitor
Author: Ken Stauffer
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
ftp.uu.net
oak.oakland.edu : /pub/msdos/crossasm/as31.zip
many other locations (use Archie to find)
Program: CUG292WK.ZIP
Description: C source for a cross assembler, includes 8051
Author: Alan R. Baldwin
Location: oak.oakland.edu : /pub/msdos/crossasm
pc.usl.edu : /pub/msdos/systools
many other locations (use Archie to find)
Program: Frankenstein
Description: C source for a cross assembler, includes 8051
Author: Mark Zenier
Location: ftp.njit.edu : /pub/msdos/frankasm/FRANKASM.ZOO
lth.se : /pub/netnews/alt.sources/volume90/dec
ftp.uni-kl.de : /pub1/unix/languages/frankenstein.tar.Z
many other locations (use Archie to find)
Program: CAS 8051 assembler
Description: Experimental one-pass assembler for the 8051
with C-like syntax. Includes assembler, linker
and disassembler.
Author: Mark Hopkins
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/assem
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/csd4-archive/assem
Program: a51
Description: Portable cross assembler (source in C), other
processors available
Author: William C. Colley, III
Location: hpcsos.col.hp.com : /misc/ns32k/beowulf/a-8051
Basic
Program: BAS051.ZIP
Description: Converts IBM BASIC to 8051 assembly (compiler)
Author: Winefred Washington
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
Program: BASIC-52.ZIP
Description: Source files for BASIC-52 interpreter
Author: Intel Corporation, Embedded Controller Operations
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: BASIC31.ZIP
Description: BASIC-52 interpreter for 8031/8051 in external EPROM
Author: Intel w/ changes by Dan Karmann
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: TB-51.ZIP
Description: TinyBASIC for 8031
Author: JHW (from Intel InSite library) w/ fixes by Tom Schotland
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: TB51ML23.ZIP
Description: MetaLink ASM compatible tiny BASIC
Author: adapted for MetaLink assembler by Jim Lum
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Forth
Program: EFORTH51.ZIP
Description: eFORTH environment for the 8051
Author: C. H. Ting
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
asterix.inescn.pt : /pub/forth/8051
hpcsos.col.hp.com : /mirrors/.hpib0/forth/eForth
Program: FORTH51.ZIP (FORTH86.ZIP used as host)
Description: FORTH development system for 8051 with PC host
Author: William H. Payne, the author of "Embedded Controller
Forth for the 8051 Family"
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
asterix.inescn.pt : /pub/forth/8051
hpcsos.col.hp.com : /mirrors/.hpib0/forth/8051
Program: XD8051.ZIP
Description: Development environment for use with F-PC Forth
Author: Paulo A.D. Ferreira
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/signetics-bbs
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/signetics-bbs
Program: 51FORTH.ZIP
Description: Subroutine threaded Forth
Author: Scott Gehmlich
Location: hpcsos.col.hp.com : /mirrors/.hpib0/forth/8051
130.123.96.9 : /giovanni/51forth.zip
Program: FORTH552.ZIP
Description: A Non-Standard Forth System for the Signetics 80C552
Author: Alberto Pasquale
Location: hpcsos.col.hp.com : /mirrors/.hpib0/forth/8051
Development systems
Program: 8051.zip
Description: Many development tools including: debugger, monitor,
LCD and stepper moter driver, communications, host
client, and much more. This is a great collection of
tools.
Author: Mark Hopkins
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051
ftp.funet.fi : /pub/microprocs/MCS-51/csd4-archive
Program: RISM and IECM51.EXE compatible host system
Description: RISM is a reduced instruction set monitor and
IECM51.EXE is its compatible host system for a PC
Comments: These two programs together constitute a bare-bones
method of developing 80C51 system code without an
emulator. RISM51X is installed in the target system
and connected to a host PC system through a serial port.
The host PC runs the debugger IECM51.EXE. Once the
system has been debugged, RISM can be removed and the
target can be run in stand-alone mode.
Author: Intel
Location: ftp.intel.com : /pub/mcs51/tools
Program: ApBUILDER 2.0
Description: Development system for the Intel MCS-51(R) family
(also for the MCS-96(R) family, 80x186, and 80x386
embedded microcontrollers).
Comments: Requires Windows 3.1
APBUILDR.TXT - description in ASCII
APBDISK1.EXE - binary self-extracting file for disk 1
APBDISK2.EXE - binary self-extracting file for disk 2
Author: Intel
Location: ftp.intel.com : /pub/mcs51 and /pub/mcs96
Program: FXDSMAN.EXE
Description: 8xC51Fx data sheets and manual in Windows 3.1
hypertext style
Comments: binary self-extracting file for one diskette
Author: Intel
Location: ftp.intel.com : /pub/mcs51/80c51
Program: sim51d
Description: Shareware Simulator in German
DM 50 to register for full version
Author: Werner Hennig-Roleff
Location: ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/8051/hannover
3.4) Free C compilers
The following two compilers are useful only for evaluation and
tinkering. Both compilers only output assembler code, and they do
not include libraries.
The Keil C compiler evaluation package is available as a freeware
C compiler. It can be downloaded from:
ftp.kulnet.kuleuven.ac.be : /pub/MCS-51/keil-demo
Thanks to Christofe Huygens for setting this up.
A freeware version of the Hi-Tech C compiler is available from:
Circuit Cellar BBS - file name Z8051H83.EXE
ftp.pppl.gov : /pub/incoming/Z8051H83.EXE
design.fen.qut.edu.au : /hitech
Thanks to Chris Burian for posting the information on this and
for uploading it to ftp.pppl.gov.
Mark Hopkins (of CAS assembler and 8051.ZIP fame) says he is working
on a C compiler. No word yet on when it might be available - but,
hope is on the horizon.
I have heard many good things about the Dunfield C compiler and
development system. Although not freeware, the low price ($150 for
the development system, $100 for the compiler by itself) and the good
reviews make this a package worth looking at.
I still haven't heard anything to substantiate the rumors of a
Small-C or GNU port for the 8051. Anyone have the poop on this?
3.5) Commercially available products
Many firms (large and small) offer a variety of 8051 microcontroller
variants, programming languages, support packages, and development
systems.
No endorsement is implied by inclusion in this list. I do have some
experience with the Dallas DS5000 (very convenient and easy to use).
I have made an attempt to include as many companies as possible. I
apologize to those I left out; It's only because I didn't know about
you. If you want to be included in this list, just drop me a line -
please. Any corrections appreciated.
C compilers
- 2500 A.D.
- Archimedes Software
compiler, assembler, debugger, real-time kernel, ROM
monitor, libraries for special 8051's to set SFR, embedded
I/O devices, A/D, etc.
- Avocet Systems
repackaging of the Hi-Tech Software C compiler
- BSO/Tasking
- Crossware Products
- Dunfield Development Systems (low cost)
- Franklin Software
same as Keil Electronics C
compiler, assembler, debugger, real-time kernel, ROM
monitor, libraries for special 8051's to set SFR,
embedded I/O devices, A/D, etc.
- IAR Systems
IAR tool kit comes with a C-Cross compiler, assembler,
Xlink linker, Xlib librarian, C-SPY simulator, editor,
make utility and a real-time kernel
formerly licensed for distribution in the US and Canada
under the Archimedes brand name
- Hi-Tech Software
high compliance to ANSI C
available for DOS and soon for SUN
- Intermetrics Microsystems Software, Inc.
Whitesmith's compiler, assembler, and C source level
debugger
- Keil Electronics
- Manville Chan
DOS- and Windows- based compilers
- Micro Computer Control (low cost)
- Nohau Corporation
sells and supports Franklin C
- Okapi Systems
- Signum Systems
Basic compilers
- Binary Technology, Inc.
- Systronix Inc.
Pascal
- Scientific Engineering Labs
PL/M
- Boston Systems Office
- Intel Corporation
8051 and variants
- Advanced Micro Devices
- Dallas Semiconductor
- Intel Corporation
- Matra Harris Semiconductor
- Philips Semiconductors
- Siemens
- Signetics Corporation
Board level products
- Advanced Educational Systems (AES)
complete learning system (board, LCD, keypad, A/D, D/A, etc)
- Binary Technology, Inc.
- Blue Earth Research
- Circuit Cellar Inc.
- DataCraft International
- Dunfield Development Systems
- EE Systems
- Forth, Inc.
- HiTech Equipment Corp.
- L.S. Electronic Systems Design
- Parallax, Inc.
- Prologic Designs
- Rigel Corporation
- Software Science
- Suncoast Technologies
- URDA, Inc.
Assemblers
- 2500 A.D.
- Archimedes Software
- Boston Systems Office
- Crossware Products
- Cybernetics Microsystems
- Dunfield Development Systems
- Intel Corporation
- Keil Electronics
- Lear Com Company
- Metalink
- Micro Computer Control
- Microtek Research
- Nohau Corporation
- Okapi Systems
- Parallax, Inc.
- PseudoCorp
- Raven Computer Systems
- Signum Systems
- Sysoft SA
Forth
- AM Research (features a kernel of less than 700 bytes)
- Forth, Inc.
A cross-development product for the 8051 family
which includes a board and extensive documentation.
- Forth Systeme
- MPE: MicroProcessor Engineering Ltd.
A cross-development product for the 8051 family
which includes a board and extensive documentation.
- Offete Enterprises
8051 eForth (C. H. Ting -- $25.00). "A small ROM based
Forth system ... Source code is in MASM IBM 5.25 disk
With 8051 eForth Implementation Note."
ROM Monitor-based Debuggers
- ChipTools (ChipView-51 looks like turbo debugger)
- Dunfield Development Systems
Simulators
- 2500 A.D.
- Avocet Systems
- ChipTools (on a 33 MHz 486 their simulator matches the speed of
a 12 MHz 8051)
- Cybernetic Micro Systems
- Dunfield Development Systems
- HiTech Equipment Corp.
- Keil Electronics
- Lear Com Company
- Microtek Research
- PseudoCorp
Emulators
- American Automation
- Applied Microsystems
- ChipTools (front end for Nohau's emulator)
- Hewlett-Packard
- HiTech Equipment Corp.
- Huntsville Microsystems
- Kontron Electronics
- MetaLink Corporation
- Nohau Corporation
- Orion Instruments
- Philips (pseudo-ICE)
- Signum Systems
- Sophia Systems
- Zax Corporation
- Zitek Corporation
Real-time
- Byte-BOS Integrated Systems
small, prioritized, preemptive real-time kernel
- Embedded System Products (formerly A.T. Barrett and Associates)
ROMable embedded-system kernel: source provided. Provides
programming interface identical on all target platforms.
Basic, advanced, and extended library packages available.
- JMI Software Systems, Inc.
small, prioritized, preemptive real-time kernel
- U S Software
SuperTask! - multitasking executive
Miscellaneous
- Dallas Semiconductor
evaluation/development kit for their DS5000 (very nice)
- Electronic Product Design, Inc.
development system (integrated package with assembler,
project manager, text editor, programmer)
- Parallax, Inc.
programmers
- U S Software
USNET - TCP/IP networking suite
USFiles - file system
GOFAST - floating point library
2500 A.D.
109 Brookdale Ave.
Box 480
Buena Vista, CO 81211
(719)395-8683
Advanced Educational Systems (AES)
1407 North Batavia Street
Orange, CA 92677
(800)730-3232
(714)744-0981
Fax: (714)744-2693
Advanced Micro Devices
901 Thompson Place
PO Box 3453
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3000
(408)732-2400
American Automation
2651 Dow Avenue
Tustin, CA 92680
(714)731-1661
AM Research,
Loomis, CA.
(916) 652-7472 or (800)949-8051
Applied Microsystems
5020 148th Ave. N.E.
PO Box 97002
Redmond, WA 98073-9702
Archimedes Software
2159 Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415)567-4010
Ashling Microsystems Ltd
Plessey Technological Park
Limerick
Ireland
+353 61 334466
Fax: +353 61 334477
or
Ashling Microsystems Ltd
Butler House
19-23 Market Street
Maidenhead
Berkshire
UK
+0628 773070
Fax: 0628 773009
Avocet Systems
120 Union St.
Rockport, ME 04856
(800)448-8500
(207)236-9055
Binary Technology, Inc.
PO Box 541
Carlisle, MA 01741
(508)369-9556
Fax: (508)369-9549
Blue Earth Research
165 W. Lind Ct.
Mankato, MN 56001-0400
(507)387-4001
Fax: (507)387-4008
BBS: (507)387-4007
Boston Systems Office
128 Technology Center
Waltham, MA 02254-9164
(617)894-7800
BSO/Tasking
(800)458-8276 or (617)320-9400
Business Data Computers
PO Box 1549
Chester, CA 96020
Byte-BOS Integrated Systems
P.O. Box 3067
Del Mar, CA 92014
(800)788-7288
(619)755-8836
ChipTools Inc
Voice:905-274-6244
Fax:905-891-2715
IP: chip...@hookup.net
Circuit Cellar Inc.
4 Park St.
Vernon, CT 06066
(203)875-2751
Fax: (203)872-2204
Crossware Products
2 The Lawns, Melbourn
Royston
Herts SG8 6BA
UK
+44 763 261539
Fax: +44 763 262983
BBS: +44 763 261716
Email: sa...@crossware.com
Cybernetic Micro Systems
Box 3000
San Gregorio, CA 94074
(415)726-3000
Dallas Semiconductor
4401 S. Beltwood Parkway
Dallas, TX 75244-3292
(214)450-0448
Fax: (214)450-0470
DataCraft International
2828 Ione Dr.
San Jose, CA 95132
(800)873-3709
(408)259-4866
Dunfield Development Systems
PO Box 31044
Nepean, Ontario K2B 8S8
Canada
(613)256-5820
Fax: (613)256-5821
Email: ddun...@bix.com
also
Micro Amps Ltd
66 Smithbrook Kilns
Cranleigh, Surrey UK
GU6 BJJ
Tel: 0483 268999
Fax: 0483 268397
EE Systems
50935 Hill Dr.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(219)296-1754
Fax: (219)522-4271
Electronic Product Design, Inc.
6963 Bluebelle Way
Springfield, OR 97478
(503)741-0778
Embedded System Products (formerly A.T. Barrett and Associates)
11501 Chimney Rock
Houston, TX 77035-2900
(800)525-4302
(713)728-9688
Fax: (713)728-1049
Forth, Inc.
1-800-55FORTH
Forth Systeme
P.O. Box 1103
Breisach, Germany
7767-551
Franklin Software
(408)296-8051
Hewlett-Packard
1501 Page Mill Rd.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
HiTech Equipment Corp.
9400 Activity Rd.
San Diego, CA 92126
(619)566-1892
Fax: (619)530-1458
Hi-Tech Software
PO Box 103
Alderly QLD 4051
Australia
(+61-7) 300 5011
Fax: (+61-7) 300 5246
Email: hit...@hitech.com.au
Hitex (UK) Ltd
Sir William Lyons Road
Science Park
Coventry
CV4 7EX
+0203 692066
Fax: 0203 692131
Huntsville Microsystems
4040 S. Memorial Parkway
PO Box 12415
Huntsville, AL 35802
IAR Systems Software
One Maritime Plaza, Suite 1770
San Fransisco, CA 94111
USA
(415)765-5500
Fax: (415)765-5503
also
IAR Systems AB
Box 23051
S-750 23 Uppsala
Sweden
+46 18 16 7800
Fax: +46 18 16 7838
also
IAR Systems GmbH
Brucknerstrasse 27
D-81677 Munchen
Germany
+49 89 470 6022
Fax: +49 89 470 9565
also
IAR Systems Ltd
9 Spice Court
Plantation Wharf, York Rd
London SWII 3UE
England
+44 71 924 3334
Fax: +44 71 924 5341
Intel Corporation
3065 Bowers Ave.
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Technical Help: 800-628-8686 (USA/Canada only)
5 am to 5 pm PST
Internet: james_...@ccm.hf.intel.com
Faxback support: 800-628-2283 (USA/Canada)
touch tone phones only
Will only FAX to USA/Canada locations
English or Japanese support is available
BBS: 916-356-3600
Auto config: 1200 thru 14.4K Baud
(24 Hr. BBS) Settings: 9600,N,8,1
(NO parity, 8 data, 1 stop)
Intermetrics Microsystems Software, Inc.
733 Concord Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617)661-0072
Fax: (617)868-2843
JMI Software Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 481
904 Sheble Lane
Spring House, PA 19477
(215)628-0840
Fax: (215)628-0353
KEIL ELEKTRONIK GmbH
Bretonischer Ring 15
D-85630 Grasbrunn b. Muenchen
Germany
089-465057
Fax: 089-468162
Kontron Electronics
D-8057 Eching/Munich
Oskar von Miller Str. 1
Germany
(0 81 65) 77-0
Lear Com Company
2440 Kipling St. Suite 206
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303)232-2226
Fax: (303)232-8721
L.S. Electronic Systems Design
2280 Camilla Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada L5A 2J8
(905)277-4893
Fax: (905)277-0047
Manville Chan
P.O. Box 109
200 Cochran Road
Weatherford, TX
USA 76086
(817)599-8363
Fax: (817)599-5098
Matra Harris Semiconductor
2840-100 San Tomas Expressway
Santa Clara, CA 95051
(408)986-9000
MetaLink Corporation
325 E. Elliot Road
Chandler, AZ 85255
(800)638-2423
(602)926-0797
Fax: (602)926-1198
also
MetaLink Europe GmbH
Westring 2, 8011<85614>
Kirchseeon-Eglharting
(08091)2046
Fax: (08091)2386
Micro Computer Control
PO Box 275
Hopewell, JN 08525
(609)466-4116
MicroMint
4 Park St.
Vernon, CT 06066
(203)875-2751
Fax: (203)872-2204
Microtek International, Inc.
3300 N.W. 211th Terrace
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503)645-7333
Fax: (503)629-8460
also
Microtek Electronics Europe GmbH
Starnberger Strasse 22
82131 Gauting bei Munchen
+49(89)893139-30
Fax: +49(89)893139-50
MPE: MicroProcessor Engineering Ltd.
133 Hill Lane, Shirley
Southampton SO1 5AF U.K.
+44 1703 631441
Fax: +44 1703 339691
Email: m...@mpeltd.demon.co.uk
sa...@mpeltd.demon.co.uk
70730...@compuserve.com.
also
In the U.S.A.:
(506)849-8952
Fax: (506)847-0681
Nohau Corporation
51 E. Campbell Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
(408)866-1820
(408)378-2912 (24 hr. information center)
Fax: (408)378-7869
Offete Enterprises, Inc.
1306 South B Street
San Mateo, CA 94402
(415) 574-8250
Okapi Systems
(206)258-1163
Orion Instruments
180 Independence Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(800)729-7700
Fax: (415)327-9881
Parallax, Inc.
6200 Desimone Lane, #69A
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
(916)721-8217
Prologic Designs
PO Box 19026
Baltimore, MD 21204
(410)661-5950
Fax: (410)661-5950
PseudoCorp
716 Thimble Shoals Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23606
(804)873-1947
Fax: (804)873-2154
BBS: (804)873-4838
Raven Computer Systems
PO Box 12116
St. Paul, MN 55112
(612)636-0365
Rigel Corporation
PO Box 90040
Gainesville, FL 32607
Scientific Engineering Labs
255 Beacon St., Suite 3D
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)625-0288
Siemens Components, Inc.
Integrated Circuit Division
10950 N. Tantau Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(800)777-4363
Signetics Corporation
811 E. Arques Ave.
PO Box 3409
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3409
Signum Systems
Mountain View, CA
(415)903-2220
also
Thousand Oaks, CA
(805)371-4608
Software Science
3570 Roundbottom Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45244
Sophia Systems
NS Bldg. 2-4-1
Nishishinjuku, Shinuku-ku
Tokyo 160, Japan
03-348-7000
Suncoast Technologies
PO Box 5835
Spring Hill, FL 34606
(904)596-7599
Sysoft SA
6926 Montagnola
Switzerland
(091)543195
Systronix Inc.
555 S. 300 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801)534-1017
Fax: (801)534-1019
BBS: (801)487-2778
URDA, Inc.
(800)338-0517
(412)683-8732
U S Software
(503)641-8446
Fax: (503)644-2413
Product information available by ftp - ftp.netcom.com : pub/ussw
Zax Corporation
2572 White Road
Irving, CA 92714
(800)421-0982
(714)474-1170
Zitek Corporation
1651 East Edinger Ave.
Santa Ana, Ca 92705
(714)541-2931
4) 8051 DOCUMENTATION
4.1) Periodicals that cover the 8051
Various magazines and journals (journals seems to be THE popular name
for magazines these days) provide articles from time to time on the
8051 family of microcontrollers:
The Computer Applications Journal (Circuit Cellar Ink)
- programming and construction articles
- POB 7694, Riverton, NJ 08077-8784
- FAX: (203)872-2204
- Voice orders: (609) 786-0409
- On-line orders (BBS): (203) 871-1988
- Email orders: ken.da...@circellar.com
- $21.95, $31.95 surface Canada and Mexico,
$49.95 air all other countries
Computer Design
- industry announcements and trends
- One Technology Park Drive, P.O. Box 990, Westford, MA 01886
- (508)692-0700
The Computer Journal
- programming and construction articles
- PO Box 535, Lincoln 96648
Dr. Dobbs Journal
- programming articles, concepts, and designs
- 411 Borel Ave., San Mateo, CA 94402
- (415)358-9500
Electronic Engineering Times
- industry announcements and trends
- 500-B Bi-County Boulevard, Farmingdale, NY 11735
- (516)293-3000
Electronics Now
- construction articles
- Box 55115, Boulder, CO 80321-5115
- $19.97 one year
Elektor Electronics
- programming and construction articles
- World Wide Subscription Service Ltd
Unit 4, Gibbs Reed Farm, Pashley Road
Ticehurst TN5 7HE, England
- 27 UK pounds
or
- Old Colony Sound Lab, P.O. Box 243, Peterborough, NH 03458
- Tel. (603) 924-6371, 924-6526
- Fax: (603) 924-9467
- $57 USA and Canada per year
Embedded Systems Programming
- programming and systems design articles
- Miller Freeman Publications
- 500 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105
- (415) 397-1881
Microcomputer Journal (formerly Computer Craft)
- programming and construction articles
- 76 N. Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801
- $18.95 one year, foreign $23.00, foreign air mail $76.00
Midnight Engineering
- 1700 Washington Ave., Rocky Road, CO 81067
- (719)254-4553
Nuts & Volts Magazine
- A National Publication for the Buying and Selling of
Electronic Equipment
- 430 Princeland Court, Corona, CA 91719
- Mailed third class, USA only: $17.00 one year
$31.00 two years
- Mailed first class, one year only: $34.00-USA
$35.00-Canada/Mexico
- Foreign/Air Mail - $70.00; Foreign/Surface - $39.00
- (800)783-4624
- Email: 74262...@Compuserve.com
4.2) Books on the 8051
4.2.1) List of books
I don't have information on all of these, only that they exist. I
would greatly appreciate it if someone could provide a short synopsis
and the complete book name if you are familiar with any of these
titles.
8051 Interfacing and Applications
- Applied Logic Engineering
- 13008 93rd Place North, Maple Grove, MN 55369
- (612)494-3704
The 8051 Microcontroller
- I. Scott MacKenzie
- Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992
The 8051 Microcontroller
- James W. Stewart
- Prentice Hall, 1993
The 8051 Microcontroller: Architecture, Programming and Applications
- Kenneth J. Ayala
- 241 pages, soft cover
- 5.25" diskette with assembler and simulator
- ISBN 0-314-77278-2, Dewey 004.165-dc20
- West Publishing Company
- P.O. Box 64526, St. Paul, MN 55164
- (800)328-9352
- see review in next section
8051 Product Directory
- MW Media
- Fairmont Plaza, 50 W. San Fernando, #675, San Jose, CA 95113
- (408)286-4200
- FAX: (408)288-4728
Assembly Language Programming (for the MCS-51 family)
- F. A. Lyn
- L. S. Electronic Systems Design
Basic-52 Programmer's Guide
- Systronix, Inc. (they also sell a Basic compiler)
- address above
Beginner's Guide
- Suncoast Technologies
C and the 8051 - ISBN 0-13-753815-4
- Thomas W. Schultz
- Prentice Hall
Data book / Handbook / Users' Guide
- Advanced Micro Devices
- Dallas (User's guide for the DS5000)
- Intel
- Siemens
Embedded Controller Forth for the 8051 Family
- Academic Press (I think)
- William H. Payne
- uses a Forth development system available on the Internet
(see above in the Forth software section)
Experimenter's guide
- Rigel Corporation
Intel Development Tools Handbook, 2nd Edition
(Support Solutions for Intel's Embedded Microprocessor)
- MW Media
- Fairmont Plaza, 50 W. San Fernando, #675, San Jose, CA 95113
- (408)286-4200
- FAX: (408)288-4728
- Survey of commercial development tools for the 8051, 8096,
and 80186 lines of Intel microprocessors. This document could
very well be a "must" if you're into serious development using
one of these chips. If you are "just" a hobbyist, see how the
"other half" lives.
Introduction to Microcontroller Design, Based on the 8051 family of
Processors
- Business Data Computers
- P.O. Box 1549, Chester, CA 96020
4.2.1) Book reviews
John Little's review of the book:
The 8051 Microcontroller: Architecture, Programming and Applications
by Kenneth J. Ayala
IN BRIEF
A good book for those who are already moderately familiar with
assembly language programming and wish to learn more about 8051
specifics. Has many example listings, all of which are very well
documented in terms of comments and explanations in the text. NOT
a book for absolute beginners OR hardware hackers looking for
circuits and applications.
CHAPTERS
1 - Microprocessors and Microcontrollers.
2 - The 8051 Architecture.
3 - Moving Data.
4 - Logical Operations.
5 - Arithmetic Operations.
6 - Jump and Call Opcodes.
7 - An 8051 Microcontroller Design.
8 - Applications.
9 - Serial Data Communication.
A - 8051 Operational Code Mnemonics.
B - How to Use the Assembler.
C - how to Use the Simulator.
D - The 8255 Programmable I/O Port.
E - Control Registers.
COMMENTS
In his preface to the book, Mr Ayala states that that it is
intended for "... a diverse audience. It is meant for use
primarily by those who work in the area of electronic design and
assembly language programming of small, dedicated computers".
Later, he goes on to refer the reader to the manufacturer's data
books for more information on hardware issues. This sets the tone
for the whole book, which is very much software orientated.
Anyone buying the book expecting to find reams of circuit
diagrams and details on how to build their own 8051 driven,
automated car assembly plant will be disappointed. In fact, most
of the circuits and applications shown are very much conceptual,
with generic, black-box outlines for most of the components. The
single exception to this is a fairly complete system (8031, EPROM
& RAM, jumper selectable memory sizes) in the chapter on
microcontroller design. Even then, there's no I/O shown (the
txd/rxd are unconnected).
Having said that, Mr Ayala does do a fairly thorough job of
working through the peculiarities of the 8051, with detailed
coverage of memory organisation, bit/byte level operations,
timers, interrupts and, at the end of the book, a complete
chapter on 8051 communication modes. Each area has relevant
assembly language listings, along with a detailed explanation of
the workings of the code.
Each section also has highlighted "comment" passages which point
out common pitfalls and reinforce critical points. Each chapter
ends with a summary of the important points covered and a series
of ten to twenty pertinent problems for the reader to solve. For
the most part, the answers to the problems can be found in the
text. In later chapters though, the reader is asked to elaborate
on various programming themes and to write assembly language
programs of their own to perform various tasks. The problems
range from the bland "Name twenty items which have a built in
microcontroller" (Chapter 1), to the more esoteric "Compose a
40-value lookup table that will generate a sawtooth wave using a
D/A converter" (Chapter 8).
It should be noted that the book is not aimed at the complete
novice. For instance, although assembly language listings are
used throughout, it is not until Appendix B that the reader finds
out what the assembler actually does and how the listings relate
to machine code. Even then, the complete neophyte will be left
with a rather empty feeling, as there are pages and pages of
code, the schematic for a (more or less) complete system and
instructions on how to use the assembler, but no information at
all on how the object code should be utilised (other than with
the included simulator - see below). If you don't already know
how to blow an EPROM, you're in trouble.
The diskette which accompanies the book contains the PseudoSam
assembler (which is used throughout) and an 8051 simulator. Both
being intended for use on a PC (it's a measure of how fast the
computer industry is evolving that a 5.25 inch diskette seems a
little archaic just three years after the publication date of the
book). The PseudoSam assembler ran fine on my system and I was
able to assemble several of the examples from the book and
successfully run them on a small, home-brew 8031 system. I was
totally unable to get the simulator to run. However, as it failed
on several different systems I'm prepared to believe that my
particular copy of the diskette was at fault.
SUMMARY
All in all, a recommended book for those who have previous
assembly language experience and wish to get to know details
relating to the 8051 microcontroller. While the internal
architecture of the chip is covered in detail, external hardware
and peripheral interfacing is not. Only the basic 8051/31 is
covered, with little mention of the other variants available.
There are extensive listings in the text, covering routines for
handling keyboards and displays, as well as timing loops and
communications. A large, clear typeface ensures that all of the
listings are completely legible. The layout and presentation of
the book is excellent, with a consistent, unambiguous style used
throughout.
4.3) Miscellaneous documentation on the 8051
Advanced Micro Devices
- application notes
Intel Corporation
- application notes
L.S. Electronic Systems Design
- application notes (source code on diskette and schematics)
Philips Semiconductors (Signetics)
- application notes
Software Science
- application notes
__________________________________________________________
Copyright (c) 1994 by Russell Hersch, all rights reserved.
-----------------------------------
Russ Hersch - si...@datasrv.co.il