How I start with the programming of 8051 microcontroller?

nitin c: How I start with the programming of 8051 microcontroller?
I am a new comer in my microcontroller programming and I want to know the equipments used in programming the 8051 microcontroller?

Answers and Views:

Answer by jimdempster
The manufacturer’s website will have all the information you need. Also, because the 8051 is a common controller, you will find competing manufacturer’s websites with even more information. The manufacturer also has books with example and program code. You will have to buy the books unless you can convince them to give you the books for free.

You can search the Internet for examples of program code, and magazine publishers (such as EDN) have free downloadable program code complete with example projects. There is a magazine called “Embedded Systems” with details on microcontrollers and will provide additional helpful information.

Because this industry changes so rapidly, most microcontrollers have only a ~3 year life before they are replaced by something else: the 8051 is a workhorse that has been around for a long time. The original 8051 has long been retired and replaced with new controllers – what you are really doing today is programming a new controller with the older 8051 command set, in other words, a code-compatible controller.

It used to be the only language available for microcontrollers was Assembly Language (the most basic programming language), but today there are C compilers that make the programming job much quicker.

For simple jobs, programming the controller may only need a card you plug into a computer, or an EPROM programmer. You write the code, and then download the program into the chip for execution.

One of the tasks you’re going to have to face is that you’ll probably want buttons to operate the controller, and some kind of display so you can see the results, or some kind of output to other instruments. This aspect (interfacing the controller) may occupy more of your time than the programming, so be sure to research what other people have done with their projects so you can get some ideas how to ‘interface’ your contoller to the ‘real world’.

There are full-blown development systems (sometimes called System Development Kits or ‘SDK’s) with a lot of the interfacing already done, but these can cost thousands of dollars. Instead, look up project solutions on the web (e.g., EDN.com) to find lower cost solutions.

If you find you must do assembly language programming, there isn’t much free information available to help you learn this language, so please consider ordering some assembly language books (if need be).

Also, in case you didn’t know, be patient: the average amount of time spent by a programmer on programming a device like this is 1 hour per line of code (when you take into account ALL the hours expended on a program). This is not a misprint; that is why ‘C’ programming is preferred when possible: there are fewer lines of code required to complete a project.

If you can’t devote several hundred hours to finishing a project, you might want to think twice about starting – there is a significant investment in time, that’s why only a few people actually complete a project with a microcontroller.

If you’re just doing this for a class, then less time is needed, but you asked what equipment is needed – “Time” is one of the items you will need, and lots of it.