DE FACTO STANDARD 8051 C COMPILER AND PCB LAYOUT S.W.?

Okay, David and thanks for your input, too.

I will keep your suggestions in mind and may try them out.  Keil and
Altium are very expensive.

Joe


On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:51:24 +0100, David Brown
<david@westcontrol.removethisbit.com> wrote:

>On 26/12/2010 20:39, Chris H wrote:
>> In message<if21md$nc7$1@news.eternal-september.org>, Simon Clubley
>> <clubley@remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP>  writes
>>> On 2010-12-23, justme<jbleaux@gmail.com>  wrote:
>>>> Getting back into uc after a long Sabbatical.  When I ventured into
>>>> other things, Keil C compiler/assember was the standard 8051 varient
>>>> s.w.  Also, Protel was a very viable printed circuit board layout
>>>> package.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know what is best or available and accepted today.  Could
>>>> someone give me their advice?
>>>>
>>>
>>> I can't help you with the 8051 compiler, but there are open source PCB
>>> packages these days which may be suitable for you. Google for geda and
>>> kicad.
>>>
>
>geda (and friends) is powerful, but harder to learn and work with. 
>There are people using it even for very large multi-layer designs, but 
>it is seldom used by professionals if their budget allows for tools like 
>Altium.  It is also most "at home" on Linux, though I believe it can be 
>used on Windows (I don't know your preferences here).
>
>Kicad is a more integrated and light-weight suite, that is easy to 
>learn.  It is suitable for smaller designs, and is cross-platform.
>
>I don't know what low or medium budget packages are popular at the 
>moment, if you are wanting something more than Kicad gives you but don't 
>want to buy Altium.  Perhaps Pulsonix is worth a look.
>
>>> If you follow the ARM recommendations in the other thread, then gcc is
>>> available for ARM
>>
>> SO is Keil.
>>
>
>And so are a range of other compilers - from free gcc, 
>paid-and-supported gcc, through low-cost tools like ImageCraft, and up 
>to the expensive toolchains like Keil (ARM) and IAR.
>
>