Hello Everyone, I may sound very stupid and silly but I am new to the world of ucs... I just learnt programming 8051 at college and I love ucs and I want to get good at it and I am really good at programming what I lack is the knowledge of the hardware part of it. Specially the recently developed technologies in ucs.
Here are my questions:
After using 8051, I really believe that I could do almost anything with just 8051 so I have started to think 8051 is just good enough except when one needs more RAM or speed or ROM and yes the RTC. So am I right here? Why the PIC family and most importantly whats this arduino thing? why use it when you can do so much with just any other uc? I am so happy with 8051 but I just go dizzy when all the forums are talking so much about so many different ucs. please tell me what I am missing and what I must read. I have just read one book "The 8051 Microcontroller And Embedded Systems Using Assembly And C" by Mazidi. So tell me what other books I MUST read.
I don't know whats I2C and I just know what is ISP.
How does a programmer really put the code into the chip? for example, what ports should be activated? what voltages etc...
please answer my questions I would really grateful to you
After using 8051, I really believe that I could do almost anything with just 8051 so I have started to think 8051 is just good enough except when one needs more RAM or speed or ROM and yes the RTC. you can find derivatives with up to 8k RAM and up to 128k Flash ('ROM") and a few with a RTC
Why the PIC family I do not know why anyone
I have just read one book "The 8051 Microcontroller And Embedded Systems Using Assembly And C" by Mazidi. So tell me what other books I MUST read. after a while you really do not need any books but you will keep needing the datasheet for your particular derivative and "the bible" www.8052.com/.../120112
I don't know whats I2C and I just know what is ISP. I²C (NOT the misnomer I2C) is a serial bus
How does a programmer really put the code into the chip? for example, what ports should be activated? what voltages etc... no general answer, probably the most derivative dependent thing about the '51. but you say above "I just know what is ISP" and, but for mass production, I'd say today all is ISP.
Erik
thanks! but why do people use arduino? to the best of my knowledge everyone started off with 8051 but why do so many people talk about pic and arduino? wats the difference between arduino and other microcontrollers?
but why do people use arduino? to the best of my knowledge everyone started off with 8051 but why do so many people talk about pic and arduino? wats the difference between arduino and other microcontrollers?
many amateurs use the PIG because it was, at one time, the only one available in small quatities.
Ardurino is NOT a microcontroller, it is a platform.
Ok so what does a platform do basically? I mean you could just use C or Keil, whats special with arduino? why is it getting so much of popularity? could please be a little more elaborate? I am having a real tough time here undersatading things....
It's a standard processor on a PCB of a standardized size with standardized connectors.
To that board, you can buy a lot of additional boards that you mate with the processor board.
So you can connect a PCB complete with GPS, accelerometers, gyros etc if you want to build a radio-controlled flying saucer.
Or you can connect a PCB with lots of digital and analog inputs, if you want to measure data.
Next thing is that you get access to a free compiler, and lots of pre-written library code for interfacing with these addon boards.
So lots of hobbyists can buy the addon alternatives they need for their projects. And then make use of library routines already written by other people.
You could see it like a "PC for embedded". A processor board is like a stripped PC. And like you could buy different types of PCI/PCIe boards for the PC, you could make use of standard LEGO pieces (hw and sw) to create a custom solution of your own, based on your specific needs.
So the more popular the the Arduino becomes, the more people will use it. And the more hw + sw will become available. Making the platform even more popular. In short - it's a concept that have reached a critical mass. It doesn't need to be better than another platform. But it has reached a large enough user base that you want to use it explicitly because of the huge user base.
Not at all!
There are very many different makes & models of processors, just as there are many different makes & models of car.
Some people become "attached" to a particular make, and just stick to it without considering the possible merits of others.
It generally makes more sense to have experience with several makes, so that you can make an informed decision on which may be more or less appropriate to a particular task...
to the best of my knowledge everyone started off with 8051
That knowledge is incorrect. Yes, the '51 is among the oldest CPU architectures that's still in active use, but that doesn't by any means imply that everybody's first microcontroller will be some type of '51 device.
but why do so many people talk about pic and arduino?
There you've asked the equivalent of "Why is there more than one model of car in the world?" I trust you'll know the answer to that yourself.
Suraj,
I will suggest u to buy 8051 development board as you are familiar with it. That will cost you no more than 300 INR.
Do practice on that board and get complete knowledge of 8051 peripherals. You can start with timer, interrupt, and then communication like UART, I2C and SPI.
Once you get good understanding about all this then which microcontroller you are using is doesnt matter..... You will not face much problem in working with other controllers. Just make habit to read and understand datasheets properly.... dont jump on other processors or microcontrollers. One day you will be master in all but go in the right direction. Do more practice. Try different programs.
Try blinking led with using delay then using timers then using timer interrupt then try UART. then LCD interfacing ..... Keypad Interfacing....
Best of luck.
Super thanks... awesome advice... I will work on it right away!
I will suggest u to buy 8051 development board as you are familiar with it Rather than making suggestions to 'micro' (u) I suggest to the OP that he get a SILabs devboard. This gives him full "ICE functionality", and there is no susbsitute for the bility to "look under the hood"