andrew queisser wrote:
>>>don't forget the ( totally ) free SDCC C compiler
>>
>>I would... there are eval versions of most decent compilers out there.
>>Keil, IAR etc
>>
>>Keil holds about 80% of the 51 market so there is a LOT more support and
>>example code about for it. It also has a VERY good simulator.
>>
>>
> 
> Chris, why this knee-jerk reaction every time someone dares to mention SDCC? 
> Do you have some vested interested in turning people off from SDCC?
> 

ohhh, I will be very happy to known if there are problems with SDCC.
I use it for some little commercial application and for now I have not 
found any big problem at all.

> You need to be aware of it's limitations but SDCC is a valid and useful 
> thing to have out there.
> 
> Andrew 
> 
>

>>don't forget the ( totally ) free SDCC C compiler
>
> I would... there are eval versions of most decent compilers out there.
> Keil, IAR etc
>
> Keil holds about 80% of the 51 market so there is a LOT more support and
> example code about for it. It also has a VERY good simulator.
>
>
Chris, why this knee-jerk reaction every time someone dares to mention SDCC? 
Do you have some vested interested in turning people off from SDCC?

You need to be aware of it's limitations but SDCC is a valid and useful 
thing to have out there.

Andrew

In article <1149235086.462378.69070@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
Vivekanandan M <vivekm@sankhya.com> writes
>Hello ,
>
>   8051 is aound for 20 years! Its time you switch to ARM/MIPS. 

Not it' not. Not all embedded systems need an ARM or a MIPS. Thoug if
all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail...

>Its
>easy to develop applications for 8051 using keil! 

Agree. Keil is the best choice for 51

>Try doing the same
>using ARM, you learn about the ARM processor!

Hmmmm Arm is a different kettle of fish. 


-- 
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills  Staffs  England     /\/\/\/\/
/\/\/ chris@phaedsys.org      www.phaedsys.org \/\/\
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

In article <e5main$tbe$2@news.unina.it>, mmm <pippo@pippo.it> writes
>Seemanta Dutta wrote:
>> Greetings all 8051 Gurus,
>> 
>> I am familiar with 8051 for some years now.
>> I even did my graduation project work over it.
>> That time however all the resources were available
>> at school and all I used at that time was hand coded ASM and
>> an universal programmer. How I managed without a board I still
>> get baffled. ;-)
>> 
>> But now, the fire to develop over 8051 has be kindled again and
>> I want to relive my old days of 8051 development ;-(
>> 
>> Just for the record, I am already employed as a Software Engineer
>> in a mobile devices company and this is just an attempt to do certain
>> things which I like to do in my spare time, or a hobby sort of thing.
>> 
>> So basically my query boils down to the following:
>> 
>> 1. How to go about starting off 8051 embedded development?
>> What HW should I go for? Evaluation Boards? Single Board computers?
>> Emulators? Programmers? I have reviewed some of these options and have 
>> shortlisted
>> Keil and SPJ systems as my final candidates.
>> 
>> 2. As far as software is concerned, I have enough free tools and might
>> even get the full version of Keil uvision. I have also a 8051 simulator 
>> which I have written myself.
>> 
>> 3. Here's my idea about the development. Please correct me if I am wrong 
>>  in my assumptions.
>> 
>>    1. Write the code and test in some IDE like uvision
>>    2. Use the Evaluation board to make a prototype.
>>    3. Test the prototype
>>    4. After testing it out, make the actual 'stuff', using preferably 
>> some programmer to burn the code and place the 8051 into the circuit.
>> 
>>     I would basically like your help in choosing the correct stuff for 
>> all the steps mentioned above. Like the best possible Eval Board for 
>> step 1. , and the best possible programmer for step 4.
>> Do I even need a programmer? Can't I make my own? I know I can, but 
>> would like to know whether it is really feasible and things like that.
>> 
>> Thanks for all your patience for going through such a lengthy mail and
>> hoping to hear from the embedded community soon!
>> 
>> Thanks again and regards,
>> Seemanta
>
>don't forget the ( totally ) free SDCC C compiler

I would... there are eval versions of most decent compilers out there.
Keil, IAR etc   

Keil holds about 80% of the 51 market so there is a LOT more support and
example code about for it. It also has a VERY good simulator.


 
-- 
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
\/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills  Staffs  England     /\/\/\/\/
/\/\/ chris@phaedsys.org      www.phaedsys.org \/\/\
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Seemanta Dutta wrote:
> Greetings all 8051 Gurus,
>
> I am familiar with 8051 for some years now.
> I even did my graduation project work over it.
> That time however all the resources were available
> at school and all I used at that time was hand coded ASM and
> an universal programmer. How I managed without a board I still
> get baffled. ;-)
>
> But now, the fire to develop over 8051 has be kindled again and
> I want to relive my old days of 8051 development ;-(
>
> Just for the record, I am already employed as a Software Engineer
> in a mobile devices company and this is just an attempt to do certain
> things which I like to do in my spare time, or a hobby sort of thing.
>
> So basically my query boils down to the following:
>
> 1. How to go about starting off 8051 embedded development?
> What HW should I go for? Evaluation Boards? Single Board computers?
> Emulators? Programmers? I have reviewed some of these options and have
> shortlisted
> Keil and SPJ systems as my final candidates.
>
> 2. As far as software is concerned, I have enough free tools and might
> even get the full version of Keil uvision. I have also a 8051 simulator
> which I have written myself.
>
> 3. Here's my idea about the development. Please correct me if I am wrong
>   in my assumptions.
>
>     1. Write the code and test in some IDE like uvision
>     2. Use the Evaluation board to make a prototype.
>     3. Test the prototype
>     4. After testing it out, make the actual 'stuff', using preferably
> some programmer to burn the code and place the 8051 into the circuit.
>
>      I would basically like your help in choosing the correct stuff for
> all the steps mentioned above. Like the best possible Eval Board for
> step 1. , and the best possible programmer for step 4.
> Do I even need a programmer? Can't I make my own? I know I can, but
> would like to know whether it is really feasible and things like that.
>
> Thanks for all your patience for going through such a lengthy mail and
> hoping to hear from the embedded community soon!

RAMtron has just announced that they have integrated an 8051 with their
FRAM. It's got some interesting features like MAC for DSP.

Leon

Hello ,

   8051 is aound for 20 years! Its time you switch to ARM/MIPS. Its
easy to develop applications for 8051 using keil! Try doing the same
using ARM, you learn about the ARM processor!

Best Regards,
Vivekanandan M

Seemanta Dutta wrote:
> Greetings all 8051 Gurus,
> 
> I am familiar with 8051 for some years now.
> I even did my graduation project work over it.
> That time however all the resources were available
> at school and all I used at that time was hand coded ASM and
> an universal programmer. How I managed without a board I still
> get baffled. ;-)
> 
> But now, the fire to develop over 8051 has be kindled again and
> I want to relive my old days of 8051 development ;-(
> 
> Just for the record, I am already employed as a Software Engineer
> in a mobile devices company and this is just an attempt to do certain
> things which I like to do in my spare time, or a hobby sort of thing.
> 
> So basically my query boils down to the following:
> 
> 1. How to go about starting off 8051 embedded development?
> What HW should I go for? Evaluation Boards? Single Board computers?
> Emulators? Programmers? I have reviewed some of these options and have 
> shortlisted
> Keil and SPJ systems as my final candidates.
> 
> 2. As far as software is concerned, I have enough free tools and might
> even get the full version of Keil uvision. I have also a 8051 simulator 
> which I have written myself.
> 
> 3. Here's my idea about the development. Please correct me if I am wrong 
>  in my assumptions.
> 
>    1. Write the code and test in some IDE like uvision
>    2. Use the Evaluation board to make a prototype.
>    3. Test the prototype
>    4. After testing it out, make the actual 'stuff', using preferably 
> some programmer to burn the code and place the 8051 into the circuit.
> 
>     I would basically like your help in choosing the correct stuff for 
> all the steps mentioned above. Like the best possible Eval Board for 
> step 1. , and the best possible programmer for step 4.
> Do I even need a programmer? Can't I make my own? I know I can, but 
> would like to know whether it is really feasible and things like that.
> 
> Thanks for all your patience for going through such a lengthy mail and
> hoping to hear from the embedded community soon!
> 
> Thanks again and regards,
> Seemanta

don't forget the ( totally ) free SDCC C compiler

Seemanta Dutta wrote:
> Greetings all 8051 Gurus,
> 
> I am familiar with 8051 for some years now.
> I even did my graduation project work over it.
> That time however all the resources were available
> at school and all I used at that time was hand coded ASM and
> an universal programmer. How I managed without a board I still
> get baffled. ;-)
> 
> But now, the fire to develop over 8051 has be kindled again and
> I want to relive my old days of 8051 development ;-(
> 
> Just for the record, I am already employed as a Software Engineer
> in a mobile devices company and this is just an attempt to do certain
> things which I like to do in my spare time, or a hobby sort of thing.
> 
> So basically my query boils down to the following:
> 
> 1. How to go about starting off 8051 embedded development?
> What HW should I go for? Evaluation Boards? Single Board computers?
> Emulators? Programmers? I have reviewed some of these options and have 
> shortlisted
> Keil and SPJ systems as my final candidates.
> 
> 2. As far as software is concerned, I have enough free tools and might
> even get the full version of Keil uvision. I have also a 8051 simulator 
> which I have written myself.
> 
> 3. Here's my idea about the development. Please correct me if I am wrong 
>  in my assumptions.
> 
>    1. Write the code and test in some IDE like uvision
>    2. Use the Evaluation board to make a prototype.
>    3. Test the prototype
>    4. After testing it out, make the actual 'stuff', using preferably 
> some programmer to burn the code and place the 8051 into the circuit.
> 
>     I would basically like your help in choosing the correct stuff for 
> all the steps mentioned above. Like the best possible Eval Board for 
> step 1. , and the best possible programmer for step 4.
> Do I even need a programmer? Can't I make my own? I know I can, but 
> would like to know whether it is really feasible and things like that.
> 
> Thanks for all your patience for going through such a lengthy mail and
> hoping to hear from the embedded community soon!
> 
> Thanks again and regards,
> Seemanta

Keil has a 2K eval Version.
Metalink has a free assembler.
There are some cheap boards on eBay.
Phillips  and amel make chips with built in bootloaders.  just a MAX232 
and the free PC software needed.

Look on www.8052.com for more links and info.