[time-nuts] favorite microcontroller module?
Didier Juges
didier at cox.net
Thu Feb 21 20:06:05 EST 2008
Most of my projects have a serial port and a standard comm interface. Once I
get that up and running, I use it for debugging.
That's the point where I start to breathe better too :-)
I have had my share of grief with emulators also. It was not enough that
they cost $1,000's and required these monster cables such that sometimes
they did not even fit on the target board... They had their own temperament.
On the other hand, emulator or not, I had to squeeze my brain a lot more
when things did not work. Now, I put a breakpoint or two, and in little
time, the problem is usually identified.
This is a case where I definitely do not miss the old days.
I also agree with you that decent C compilers and sufficient resources on
modern chips have made assembly mostly a thing of the past. Except for a
very recent project where I had to design a circuit that generates a number
of interlaced sync pulses with precise timing. I could have done it with a
PLD, but it was simpler to use a Silabs uC, with its built-in stable clock
at 25 MHz. Using assembly allowed me to keep timing to within the 40nS cycle
time. For what I wanted to do, the compiler generated more code, simply
because it was the wrong tool for the task. The Silabs solution was 1 chip,
instead of two for the PLD. Since I used another Silabs chip in the project,
it also simplified programming (same tool).
Didier
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com
> [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Harris
> Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 9:37 AM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] favorite microcontroller module?
>
> Hi Didier,
> .., I can use a pin that ordinarily
> >> would run an LED as a diagnostic port.
> >
> > I had forgotten these tricks, which were the norm 20 years
> ago when I
> > was too lazy to pull the 6805 emulator.
>
> It's sort of funny, 20 years ago, I was flush with emulators,
> and used them
> for most of my development. The had their place back then,
> as my projects
> were spiraling out of control in terms of complexity.
>
> Now, I just do PICS, and don't need such things. I can debug
> most effectively with either simple diagnostic messages, or a scope.
>
> I don't miss how code that would work with the emulator
> bombed without the emulator ... and vice versa.
>
> Now that I am used to the full debug
> > capability of the Silabs chips, which uses only the reset and one
> > other pin on the smaller chips (the other pin being able to share
> > debug and normal duty), I don't have to resort to tricks
> like this :-)
> > You get that capability even with their $18 USB based "development
> > system" that's the size of a stick of gum.
>
> PIC's will do the same thing. I just haven't had the need to yet.
>
> >
> >> Many would say this is a religious issue, but I would disagree.
> >> The 6 and 8 pin PICS are simply awesome in what they can do in
> >> virtually no space. The tools are cheap, or free. The PIC's are
> >> cheap too.
> >>
> >
> > No religion involved, I think the PIC line is unequalled
> when it comes
> > to the variations and features that are available in the small pin
> > count packages. Silabs only has half a handful of chips in DIP
> > packages (is two the same as half a handful?) but they have some
> > pretty awesome parts in SM packages that are 3x3 mm or so
> (they start
> > at 11 pins, 10 + a tab), so if you do not do the soldering by hand,
> > you can't complain that there is no room for a powerful uC.
>
> True, they have made a number of wins.
>
> > I am getting familiar with the AVR line simply because a
> number of my
> > friends use them and speak highly of the architecture, but
> in general,
> > I try to stay with open, multi-sourced architectures, so
> the 8051 has
> > a leg up on PICs and AVRs from the start. I made that decision when
> > Motorola forced me out of the 68HC05, like so many others.
> I have not
> > regretted it. Motorola was not able to get me in the HC08,
> even though they gave it a good try.
>
> I tried to learn the HC10, but I could find no compelling
> reason to learn yet another processor.
>
> > was not going down that road again. Burn me once, shame on
> you, burn
> > me twice, shame on me (or is it: don't burn me again?)
> >
> > The Silabs chips start at a couple of $, so they are out of
> the sub-$1
> > market for sure. That's fine with me, I don't mind paying
> an extra $
> > for the features and convenience :-)
> >
> > Like many things, uC are tools. The tool that you are the most
> > comfortable with is often the best choice, for practical
> reasons, even
> > more so when you have to make a living out of it. For me, it's
> > important to know that when I start a project, I can finish
> it within
> > schedule and within budget. My familiarity with the 8051
> and many of
> > its variants (and my favorite compiler, and the ton and a half of
> > available code) gives me that capability, but as you
> pointed out, it's
> > not the only way. I understand you feel the same about the
> PIC. That's perfectly OK.
> >
> > Now, if you want an evening of fun, buy a Silabs toolstick
> and a base
> > adapter (about $28 + shipping from Mouser) and you have
> everything you
> > need (hardware and software, including demo version of the Keil C
> > compiler) for a fun uC project. Please note the Keil C51
> compiler can
> > be replaced with the free and excellent SDCC compiler.
>
> I have one around here someplace. I was frustrated because I
> couldn't get it
> to work under linux and wine. CCS has a native linux
> compiler, and their windows
> compiler works nicely under wine. I am having some trouble
> with Microchip's programmer under the current wine release,
> but it has worked in the past, I'll get it working again.
>
> >
> > Here is an example of what you can do in an evening:
> > http://www.ko4bb.com/Test_Equipment/AFSignalGenerator/SigGen.html
>
> Your server seems to be down right now.
>
> -Chuck Harris
>
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