Using C to program the 8051 family

Hi,

I've been developing some 8051 based projects and the programming is
getting a bit taxing in assembly language.

I'm a bit familiar with C and was thinking of using that to program
the uC.

Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?

Thanks a lot.

- Al

>I've been developing some 8051 based projects and the programming is
>getting a bit taxing in assembly language.
>
>I'm a bit familiar with C and was thinking of using that to program
>the uC.
>
>Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
>information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?
>
>Thanks a lot.
>
>- Al
>

www.keil.com is a good starting place. They have an obvious interest in selling
you a compiler, but there are lots of technical notes and example code. It's a
very useful site.

In article <20040101133352.01759.00001198@mb-m20.aol.com>, Ppelectron wrote:

>>Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
>>information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?
> 
> www.keil.com is a good starting place. They have an obvious
> interest in selling you a compiler, but there are lots of
> technical notes and example code. It's a very useful site.

If you're interested in a free compiler, you should take a look
at <http://sdcc.sourceforge.net/>.  Even if you're not
interested in the compiler, the links page has a lot of good
things.

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  We are now enjoying
                                  at               total mutual interaction in
                               visi.com            an imaginary hot tub...

In article <d0817e19.0401011005.34b96f4f@posting.google.com>, Aliasger
<aliasger_18@hotmail.com> writes
>Hi,
>
>I've been developing some 8051 based projects and the programming is
>getting a bit taxing in assembly language.
>I'm a bit familiar with C and was thinking of using that to program
>the uC.
>Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
>information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?
>Thanks a lot.
>- Al

It depends on who's 51 you are using and what sort of applications you
do. 

http://quest.phaedsys.org 
C51 Primer, C traps and pitfalls, embedded debugging and other papers
papers.

www.8052.com  is also very good.

Compilers:-
www.keil.com
www.iar.com
www.tasking.com

Depending on your  the Mcu you are using the manufacturers web site is a
good place to start.

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

On 1 Jan 2004 10:05:53 -0800, Aliasger wrote:
> Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
> information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?

Start at http://www.8052.com/ do a little searching, also google is
good at searches. You might try different variations with 8051,8052,
8031, howto and C compiler. Use the advanced search to limit the
information. Also do a goole seach on the newsgroup (and probably a
few others) as it may turn up a few intersting links.


http://www.howstuffworks.com/c.htm
http://hcs.sourceforge.net/howto.html

The above maybe a little helpful. The grey'd out links on the HCS page
are things I'm working on. The links work but the articles are a work
in progress so pardon the grammer and spelling, I'm no where near
done. I tend to rip, tear and throw free thoughts on a page.  I
wouldn't mind either emailing me or a reply here to anything you might
find that is useful.

-- 
Linux Home Automation         Neil Cherry        ncherry@comcast.net
http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/               (Text only)
http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/                 (SourceForge)
http://hcs.sourceforge.net/                     (HCS II)

Aliasger wrote:
> 
> I've been developing some 8051 based projects and the programming
> is getting a bit taxing in assembly language.
> 
> I'm a bit familiar with C and was thinking of using that to
> program the uC.
> 
> Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
> information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?

If you had followed this newsgroup for even a few days you would
have found a healthy discussions of the pros and cons, costs and
limitations of the SDCC and Keil compilers and availability
thereof.

-- 
Chuck F (cbfalconer@yahoo.com) (cbfalconer@worldnet.att.net)
   Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
   <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>  USE worldnet address!

Hi, I would think again, switching to another language won't make your problems
dissapear you just get some new ones. If C is the right chioce for your project
then the 8051 is allmost certainly not the right processor.

"CBarn24050" <cbarn24050@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040101200157.15398.00002261@mb-m04.aol.com...
> Hi, I would think again, switching to another language won't make your
problems
> dissapear you just get some new ones. If C is the right chioce for your
project
> then the 8051 is allmost certainly not the right processor.

I disagree.

Taking the second point first: C is absolutely fine for an 8051. Ideal,
even.

The first point has an element of truth. If the problems are not related to
code management (e.g. it's the wrong platform for the job regardless of
language), then you're right - C won't help.

But often the "problems" with large assembler projects come down to an
underlying lack of structure or organisation. Mastering C (which can take a
while - I'd agree it's certainly not an instant magic bullet for a newcomer)
*should* help with gaining a means of adopting good structuring - i.e. good,
modern design practice.

OTOH, I've seen some right pigs ears written in C - for any platform. To the
OP: I frequently use C as a means of designing code, and then either hand-
or machine-compile from there. The discipline that modern object-oriented C
encourages, e.g. active control of scope of variables, is hugely helpful
even in assembler - even if assembler doesn't demand it.

HTH,

Steve
http://www.fivetrees.com

In article <20040101200157.15398.00002261@mb-m04.aol.com>, CBarn24050 wrote:

> Hi, I would think again, switching to another language won't
> make your problems dissapear you just get some new ones. If C
> is the right chioce for your project then the 8051 is allmost
> certainly not the right processor.

Why do you say that?  A _lot_ of people (including some I know)
have done an awful lot of 8051 projects in C.  They seem quite
happy with the results.

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  If I felt any more
                                  at               SOPHISTICATED I would DIE
                               visi.com            of EMBARRASSMENT!

"Aliasger" <aliasger_18@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d0817e19.0401011005.34b96f4f@posting.google.com...
> Hi,
>
> I've been developing some 8051 based projects and the programming is
> getting a bit taxing in assembly language.
>
> I'm a bit familiar with C and was thinking of using that to program
> the uC.
>
> Does anyone have any good websites where I can find some in depth
> information on starting off programming the 8051 in C?
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> - Al

use Google and search for "final word on the 8051",   you will find an
online pdf file that should be quite helpful.  (it assumes you are using the
Keil compiler but is useful even if you use another one)

Mark