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Be kind - i'm very new!

Ziso Regondo
Note: This was originally posted on 15th July 2011 at http://forums.arm.com

Hi all,

I'm a uni student, and one of my major modules involves embedded computer programming on a Keil MCB2370 development board - I believe this has the ARM7TDMI processor built onto it..

A bit of research shows me that this processor (although VERY popular ) is similar to that used in older devices such as iPod Classic first to third generations and iPod fourth and fifth generations, iPod Mini, iPod Nano first generation (according to wikipedia anyway).

My real question is this - how far off am i (hard work and tireless dedication notwithstanding) from working on the latest A4 and A5 chips in use at the moment - i get the feeling we're being prepared for a more general role in embedded computing by programming at this level, when much more superior and current technology is out there...

Any thoughts, pieces of advice, pointers?

Who is employing engineers capable of programming well on the ARM7TDMI and similar processors?
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  • Note: This was originally posted on 25th July 2011 at http://forums.arm.com


    > and mastering Cortex-M3 is harder than ARM7

    Really? Personally I find the Cortex-M3 much easier to pick up and start using when hacking home projects. Integrated interrupt controller, simplified system modes, no need for assembler at all ... I love working with the M3 for home projects - I can focus on the problem not the low level knobs for the microcontroller itself =)

    True, writing M-class assembler is quite a lot harder compared to vanilla ARM assembler, but TBH I rarely have a need to use it now-days - compilers are much better at ARM code generation than they used to me ...

    Iso


    Sorry, I meant purely in terms of CPU. More specifically, increased difficulty in hand scheduling assembly code. I'd call it a bit harder than ARM7 or ARM9, but substantially easier than Cortex-A8. That's only if you care deeply about wringing clock cycles, and even then you don't have that many options for improving it anyway. But ARM7 is the epitome of context-free scheduling. ISA-wise ARM-v7m doesn't add that much and what it does is pretty intuitive.

    Personally I'd choose a Cortex-M3 microcontroller over an ARM7 one any day of the week, unless there was a huge cost advantage for the latter. Which is getting questionable, when you can buy STM32F101s for $0.61 in low quantity (if possibly only for a limited time?)
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  • Note: This was originally posted on 25th July 2011 at http://forums.arm.com


    > and mastering Cortex-M3 is harder than ARM7

    Really? Personally I find the Cortex-M3 much easier to pick up and start using when hacking home projects. Integrated interrupt controller, simplified system modes, no need for assembler at all ... I love working with the M3 for home projects - I can focus on the problem not the low level knobs for the microcontroller itself =)

    True, writing M-class assembler is quite a lot harder compared to vanilla ARM assembler, but TBH I rarely have a need to use it now-days - compilers are much better at ARM code generation than they used to me ...

    Iso


    Sorry, I meant purely in terms of CPU. More specifically, increased difficulty in hand scheduling assembly code. I'd call it a bit harder than ARM7 or ARM9, but substantially easier than Cortex-A8. That's only if you care deeply about wringing clock cycles, and even then you don't have that many options for improving it anyway. But ARM7 is the epitome of context-free scheduling. ISA-wise ARM-v7m doesn't add that much and what it does is pretty intuitive.

    Personally I'd choose a Cortex-M3 microcontroller over an ARM7 one any day of the week, unless there was a huge cost advantage for the latter. Which is getting questionable, when you can buy STM32F101s for $0.61 in low quantity (if possibly only for a limited time?)
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