8051 Newbie

[RedBull]

Hi, I just completed a course on 8085 microprocessor. Now i want to start learning 8051. Is the background of 8085 enough for 8051 or do i need to learn more before starting 8051? Also which is the best book to start with ? what tools/software/hardwares do i need ? and where do i start from?
Please guide me...

[Todporn]

Hello RedBull,

          IMHO, the background of 8085 should be enough to start learning 8051.  The following books are very nice to begin with...

The 8051 Microcontrollers, I. Scott Mackenzie
The 8051 Microcontroller: Architecture, Programming, and Applications, Kenneth J. Ayala 
etc.

There are several freely downloadable assemblers and compilers for 8051 microcontrollers (e.g. ASEM51, GNU-C compiler.. just googles them).  You may want to build a 8051 single board with a monitor program like PAULMON1 or PAULMON2.. (http://www.pjrc.com/tech/8051/ or http://www.kmitl.ac.th/~kswichit%20/8051sbc/8051sbc.html).. All schematic diagrams, source codes and how-to build instruction manual can be downloaded from these websites.

HTH

[kolin]

Are you sure you want to learn 8051? 28 years old architecture is now becoming obsolete. Learn modern AVRs, PIC, or Zilog's Z8 Encore (best micro I worked with).
Build USBasp, download AVRstudio, Winavr, BASCOM or whatever and start with AVR. They are definitively better. I had to learn 8051 architecture for my school exam, and it's so limited, timers are restricted when using uart, clock cycle is too long....

[RedBull]

Are you sure you want to learn 8051? 28 years old architecture is now becoming obsolete. Learn modern AVRs, PIC, or Zilog's Z8 Encore (best micro I worked with).
Build USBasp, download AVRstudio, Winavr, BASCOM or whatever and start with AVR. They are definitively better. I had to learn 8051 architecture for my school exam, and it's so limited, timers are restricted when using uart, clock cycle is too long....

Thanks for the reply. In my 4th year in Engineering course i need to do some sort of project work which not necessarily should be based on microcontrollers. But if it is microcontroller based it must be 8051. That's why i wanted to start 8051.

[Todporn]

Hello friends,
          I've to disagree with kolin.  The 8051 or MCS51 architecture is not obsolete.  Many manufacturers (e.g. ATMEL PHILIPS ..) continue to improve this microcontroller family. I know it is old but still going strong.  :-)  Here is some comment (about 8051) from ATMEL website..

"Atmel offers a broad range of microcontrollers based on the 8051 architecture. The product line includes MCS-51® industry standard socket drop-in devices, In-System Programming capability, and small footprint 20-pin derivatives in ROMless, ROM, OTP & Flash flavors (see on-line selection table). Some of the devices also take advantage of the high-speed core (X2) mode which doubles the internal clock frequency for CPU and peripherals upon selection.
The 8051 derivatives also include Application Specific Products with specialized functions to serve dedicated markets:
CAN Networking
MP3 Applications
Smart Card Readers
USB Applications
Atmel also offers 8/16 bit microcontrollers based on the powerful C251 architecture. Our C251 devices allow a direct and easy performance increase by upgrading existing 80C51-based applications."

Cheers

[zorx]

Look at Silicon Laboratories 8051 families (www.silabs.com). C8051F121 works with clock up to 100MHz and 70% of instructions executing during 1 or 2 clock cycles, thus giving 100 MIPS. So, 8051 still lives. It just depends on what type of application are you working on.

[RedBull]

Yup guys... i think 8051 is still popular. I would definitely start learning it.

[hulahula]

http://www.c51c51.com/

[drfaust]

The 28 years life of 8051 only shows that it is very good system, and it can be used for newest projects. And at last, 8086 lives even more, and why didn't you say that it is bad?

[jabuka]

Here is a good free online book to start with:



Learn in a quick and easy way to program 8051 microcontroller using many practical examples we have provided for you. Despite its relative old age, 8051 is still the most commonly used microcontroller at present. Beside Intel, many other renowned companies manufacture this model - Philips, Siemens, etc. The book contains details of its architecture and many practical examples, both simple and complex, useful program routines, instructions on handling the programmer for Atmel 51 series, and the guide on using the development systems for Atmel microcontrollers. In the appendices you will find detailed assembler instructions with examples, glossary and much more...

More info here:

Architecture and Programming of 8051 Microcontrollers

[hhh4h]

With all the varities and manufacturers using the 8051 core, the need for programming skills is going to last a long time

Posted on: April 20, 2008, 06:11:09 18:11 - Automerged
And there are open source tools out so if you are interested in compiler design, linker design or building your own assembler, you can take apart their code, understand how it works and build your own.

[sabyes]

Keil C "8051 teach me how to create project. It can apply to PIC Easy

[chaleekan]

Keil C 8051 easy to use

[bugmike25]

Hi i suggest either a high performance 8051 core MCU from SiLabs.  They sell development boards which are great to work with especially for beginners.  You can also find alot of cheap NXP 8051 MCU development boards for sale on ebay. These are also very good since im using one for my thesis. ex. P89V51RD2

I also suggest that u read the datasheet supplied with the microcontroller since it explains in detail everything that you need to know.  And its also best that you use Keil Software since it uses both C and assembly making it flexible.  It also supports almost all 8051 core MCUs.

[abskai]

C89V51RD2 is easy to use with flash magic.


http://www.flashmagictool.com/

[anishjp]

Hi,
You should definitely go tru the below link to know about the Microcontroller books....
http://www.sonsivri.com/forum/index.php?topic=3934.0;prev_next=prev#new

[RedBull]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.
I've been learning 8051 microcontroller slowly as its not offered as a course in my college. I recently bought the book written by Mazidi. I could not find the book written by Scott Mackenzie in my local bookstore.

[jabuka]

Regarding choosing compiler for 8051,

You should check out mikroElektronika's mikroPascal, mikroBasic and mikroC compilers for 8051. It is comprehensive, stand-alone compilers for 8051 MCUs and
it has intuitive and friendly environment, using many advanced features and practical examples.  It is accompanied with the most advanced
IDE on the market. Plenty of practical examples and a comprehensive documentation allow a quick start in programming 8051.

More info and download here:

mikroBasic for 8051 - http://www.mikroe.com/en/compilers/mikrobasic/8051/

mikroPascal for 8051 - http://www.mikroe.com/en/compilers/mikropascal/8051/

mikroC for 8051 - http://www.mikroe.com/en/compilers/mikroc/8051/

Best Regards.

[ali_asadzadeh]

i think learning 8051 or mcs-51 is a waste of time!
you could instead just learn avr or arm7tdmi or cortexm3. they have the futuer and forget about mcs-51 and pic.

[charnyutk]

Hi RedBlue,
         The 8051 core is easy to learn. However, compared to another mcu such as AVRs, they may give you a great deal with their ton of peripheral. So you may have much fun more than 8051. But I am used to programming 8051 before.

good luck,

[abskai]

Mcs51 assembly is look like 8086 assembly.
So it may be useful in microprocessor 's class.
If you want to use in real world product.
I recommended you to use other mcu such as Atmel AVR or Microchip PIC

[myheadhurts]

One good reason for using 8051s is the number of manufacturers making them.
If Atmel go bust...no more AVRs...same with microchip...
When I lost Triscend I was back up and running quickly with Silabs..

And the silabs kits make excellent learning tools.

Rob

[patoliyarj]

Hi...u can use either KJ Ayala or MAZIDI & MAZIDI book...for easy start up....As per my experience, Ayala is good forbasic and theory and Mazidi is best for practical approach...
also u can join 8052.com forum for latest and projects...

take care...

[pak]

I recommend, USB toolstick from Silab for easy programming, debugger and enhanced features like ADC, DAC, Comparator and Temp Sensor. It's really good for learning about 8051 architecture.

https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/ToolStick.aspx

pak

   HAPPY Microcontroller Programming