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Hallo I am PIC programmer. I have always used CCS C compiler. I want to pass to the 32 bit platform and I thought that ARM would be best. I thought of buying a development board from Olimex and use the Keil uVision compiler. Before spending a few money I need to clarify a couple of things. Do I need anything else to get started? Is the Olimex board and Keil compiler enough to write firmware, compile, burn the chip, and expect it to work? What is the jtag? In CCS C compiler there are many libraries for the microcontroller’s peripherals, is it the same in ARM development?
You would probably like a ULINK2 for using the JTAG interface. It's an interface to allow you to download software and to debug your program. At least some of the ARM chips has a boot loader allowing you to download new software using a serial port, but I think you would prefer the ULINK2.
Olimex probably has the cheapest boards, but there is a reason. They are fully working, but they haven't spent a huge amount of time on usability. A lot of small strap fields - and they are all located between high capacitors to make them hard to reach. To use the potentiometer, you have to use your finger tip, since it too has higher components around it.
I bought both a Olimex and a Keil board, and I prefer the Keil board. On the other hand, the QA on the Keil board wasn't 100% - one of the buffer chips had one pin in the air.
What about question 1) 2) 4).
1) Do I need anything else to get started?
A) You would probably like a ULINK2 for using the JTAG interface.
2) Is the Olimex board and Keil compiler enough to write firmware, compile, burn the chip, and expect it to work?
3) What is the jtag?
A) It's an interface to allow you to download software and to debug your program.
4) In CCS C compiler there are many libraries for the microcontroller's peripherals, is it the same in ARM development?
A) Sorry, I don't know what libraries that are supplied with the CCS. I also don't know what ARM chip you are thinking about, making the question impossible to answer. I would guess that the answer is no, but at least for some of the chips, there are a lot of online info about how to use different peripherials.
For example to use the SPI peripheral on PIC using the CCS C compiler i would write:
spi_read() //to get the data from spi
spi_write() //to write data to spi
Are there similar functions for ARM in uVision?
I would like to purchase the LPC-2378STK board from Olimex.
Remember that "ARM" is an architecture - ARM do not manufacture chips themselves.
Therefore peripherals like SPI will be specific to the particular device or manufacturer - so that's where you should look for support.
You may find that Olimex provide libraries for their boards - you'll have to ask them...
Ok now i get it. One last question: Is the Olimex Jtag compatible with uVision?
"Is the Olimex Jtag compatible with uVision?"
The Keil JTAG interface is the uLink:
http://www.keil.com/ulink2/
Unless Olimex provide their own - in which case you'd have to ask them!
Olimex does not make their own JTAG interface to my knowledge.
I haven't tested the Olimex board with Keil and ULINK2. I got the Olimex board with the IAR eval kit.
" I got the Olimex board with the IAR eval kit."
I looked at the Olimex site, and they do seem to be exclusively IAR (no mention of Keil).
That most likely means you'll get limited (if any) support from Olimex when you have Keil-specific questions. Similarly, it's also likely to mean that there are (relatively) few Keil users familiar with the Olimex board.
As you say you're new to both ARM and Keil, it might make your life easier to either go with IAR and Olimex, or pick a board supplier with some knowledge of Keil...