I have many years of experience with the Motorola/Freescale 8 bits line of microcontrollers and C language. The Metrowerks compilers have been for me a reliable solution for many years now, with a great compiler and a good programming / debugging tool.
I need to get started with 32 bit architectures but I am a complete newbie to the 32 bit ARM family of microcontrollers and I want to just jump to a different manufacturer. I find NXP's ARM very interesting and the Keil evaluation board appears to be a very nice product.
I would like to start with the lpc2368 processor and the MCB2300 Evaluation Board from Keil. It seems to me that a evry good compiler ( as I heard - no experience with it ), a FLASH programming tool and a debugger comes in the box.
Dear friends, my questions are mainly oriented at the development tools:
1. Are there any license or code size limitations for the generated code ? 2. Has the MCB2300 a full featured C ( not C++ ) compiler ? 3. The kit is enough to get started or I would have to buy extra parts, cables, software, etc ?
You oppinios are very valuable for me. I am sorry for such simple questions.
Kind regards
Roberto
See http://www.keil.com/company/contact.asp for Keil sales and distributor contacts
"1. Are there any license or code size limitations for the generated code ?"
See: http://www.keil.com/demo/limits.asp
"2. Has the MCB2300 a full featured C ( not C++ ) compiler ?"
The boards and the full development tools are separate products.
"3. The kit is enough to get started or I would have to buy extra parts, cables, software, etc ?"
See http://www.keil.com/boards/ - note Keil's distinction between "board" and "starter kit"
A chat with Keil sales and/or your local distributor should clarify these matters...
See: http://www.keil.com/mcb2300/
Components Included Tells you what's included when you buy the board;
System Requirements Tells you what you need to supply;
Starter Kit Tells you what's additionally included when you buy the Starter Kit.
Again, a telephone call to your local Distributor - or even a visit to their offices - would allow you to discuss your requirements in detail. If you have a commercial project in mind, they may even come to you and demonstrate their wares...
Note that distributors often have seminars, attend exhibitions, etc where you could meet them in person.
eg, see: http://www.keil.com/events/
Thank you Andrew for your kind reply to my post. I have asked Keil for a quote.
However I find the information in the website a little confusing for me as a newbie to the chip and brand, and finally I didn't came clear if the compiler, programmer, etc. is included with the evaluation board ( not a standalone board ). IMHO an evaluation board should bring at least a few elements to generate, program, run and debug an application program.
So I will wait for the Keil's representative reply and ask all this.
I am located in Buenos Aires, Argentina where there are not many NXP or Keil seminars. For more than 30 years Motorola / Freescale and other major brands have priority in the market and they constantly present its seminars, etc.
Thank you again and greetings from Buenos Aires.