I'll second this. I'm kind of fond of the MCS-51 family for 8 bit applications. They're really nothing special, old school stuff, but they have something like 40% of the embedded market, and once you learn their quirks, it just kind of sticks. Multi-source, and lots of variants. There's a free embeddable BASIC interpreter on the net, SDCC C compiler, and almost 30 years worth of tools & code for it kicking around the net.
The SiLabs mixed analog family is really amazing. They depart for several '51 family norms, but overall seem worth the trouble. I like the Atmel derivatives. More info & resources over at www.8052.com I regard PIC chips as something to be avoided. Horrible little architecture that should have died back in the 70's. It gained a foothold with hobbyists due to the ease with which they can be programmed. The modern '51's are just as easy, and in some cases easier. Some of them ship with bootloader that can be activated on reset, and programmed using the onboard serial port. Last I checked, even the AVR's are missing out on that, though they're relatively easy to program as well, and have an arch better suited to C. de KC6OOM/5 On Feb 15, 2008, at 10:12 PM, Didier Juges wrote: > My favorite uC familly is made by Silabs. > > They have a line of 8051 variants with excellent performance (up to > 100 > MIPS) and the SDCC compiler is free. > > I have documented the main reasons for liking it there: > > http://www.eds-fl.com/cgi-bin/wiki/wiki.cgi?SiLabs > > (nomal ko4bb.com web site is down tonight, don't know why) > > Didier KO4BB > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 10:05 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] favorite microcontroller module? >> >> Hello Bob, >> >>> Has (?)/Had some extremely obscure bugs, don't recall the exact >>> details right now, but I decided I didn't need the hassles in some >>> lifesupport equipment I was designing. >>> Was the original Philips ARMs. >> >> NXP took care of most of the issues long time ago. Remaining >> bugs are well documented, better than parts from other >> companies without documented bug list. >> >> Get the /01 versions of the chips. Available for around $2 in >> volume. Easily available on Digikey, and dev boards are >> $30.95 on Sparkfun. Free GNU tools available, including >> several free OS's. Love the fact that executables run on >> different parts, one can choose based on memory requirements. >> >> Another one is NEC, they make a host of Microcontrollers that >> are extremely popular in Detroit. Lot's of support, >> high-reliability with wide temp ranges etc. They have units >> with direct LCD drive, motor control circuitry, etc. >> >> bye, >> Said >> >> >> >> >> **************The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at >> the Grammy >> Awards. Go to AOL Music. >> (http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp00300000002565) >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, >> go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.6/1280 - Release >> Date: 2/15/2008 9:00 AM >> >> > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.6/1280 - Release Date: > 2/15/2008 > 9:00 AM > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ > time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
