I have an old version of the C51 compiler which needs a parallel port dongle to generate a compiled output (Compiler V5.0/uVision 1.13). Parallel ports are disappearing on laptops and also on desktops. What options do I have? Is there a USB to parallel adaptor that may work? Do I have to upgrade to a modern version of compiler, which is not economically viable in this current economic climate?
The vast majority of USB-to-parallel adaptors (especially in "consumer" outlets) are purely for printer output and will not work for this.
There are a very few "specialist" ones which claim to work - but it would be very much up to you to ensure that they meet your specific requirements.
eg, see: www.8052.com/.../118809
I think you can still buy parallel-port PC cards (previously known as PCMCIA) for laptops? And cards for desktops?
http://www.keil.com/forum/17223/
www.8052.com/.../166718
But, as already noted, your software is sooooooooooooooooo far out-of-date that it probably really is time now that you start to think about an update...
"your software is sooooooooooooooooo far out-of-date that it probably really is time now that you start to think about an update..."
Is this for some old project that specifically demands such long-term support? maybe a military one?
If so, it might be worth speaking to Keil and/or your distributor to see if you can't come to some arrangement...
A new 8051 compiler really will not be possible. My employer would rather I wrote in assembler (free) than buy another compiler no matter what argument I put up. I would probably move over to Freescale chips and use their free Codewarrior tool. My projects are not that large so could be done with free tools. However I still have to support existing 8051 projects written ten years ago. Small companies like the one I work for are really feeling the pinch.
A new 8051 compiler really will not be possible. My employer would rather I wrote in assembler (free) than buy another compiler no matter what argument I put up. .... However I still have to support existing 8051 projects written ten years ago. Small companies like the one I work for are really feeling the pinch.
company size is irrelevant
If having the best tool saves your cost (time, desk, floorspace, vacation, sick, holliday, ... - not just your salary) "fighting" instead of "developing" the tool purchase should be automatic. Another case would be where having the best tool would make meeting the TTM (Time To Market) goal possible.
The unfortunate fact is that many companies consider labor cost "something we have to pay anyhow" and tool cost "something we do not have to pay".
Erik
So do that, then - being sure to give all your time estimates with an "if I had a 'C' compiler" comparison.
Get your existing compiler to give assembler listings for everything, and then carry on in assembler...
"My projects are not that large so could be done with free tools"
Have you looked at SDCC? Or one of the cheaper commercial tools?
"Small companies like the one I work for are really feeling the pinch."
I don't think they can blame the current climate for having skimped on tools over the past ten years!
Erik is correct. Good tools don't cost, they pay! It's up to you to learn to speak management speak. That is, show what it cost to write in Assembly. Show what it would cost to write in C with a GOOD toolset. Most free tools are worth exactly what you pay for them. The limitations cost you time and effort with work arounds.
Keil has a full set of evaluation tools that are limited by code size and some libraries.
IAR has a limited code toolset set. But again, IAR, Freescale or Keil, the best tools will save your company in the long run.
I too have worked for companies with the mentality that goods cost but labor is free. In one case, the owner wanted us to save our printer output to cut up into memo size for our notes. How much do you think it cost the owner for his engineers to stop work to cut up the memos?
Bradford
Someone, all those years ago, must have worked out that it was worth buying that Keil licence.
What's changed?