Resources for using the AT89C2051?

Electronics
1

I have an embedded project that requires the use of this 8-bit MCU. As I have never used one before I’m not sure where to look for design software.

I have checked the Atmel site which recommends an assembly language compiler.
I’ve included a link to asm compiler below, but I would rather use C if possible

I found a gui for programming the chip with a schematic for building the programming hardware.
http://students.uta.edu/rx/rxr5243/projects/prog/2051prog.zip
I have access to a DataIO Unisite 40 that I could use instead of building a programmer.

I suppose what I’m really looking for is something that will work with the comforts that I have become accustomed to…like Atmel Studio but it looks like the device is not supported from what I can tell via www.atmel.com.

Worst case:
I write the program in asm and compile with command line tool. http://www.atmel.com/images/c51asm_win_1-2.zip and dust off the DataIO.

Please help me out if you can beat that setup with any solution used in the last 20yrs.

Cheers
-Brandon

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@Brandon_Dunson I suspect you going to be stuck with the old technology approach. To the best of my knowledge, the 8051 series of micro-controllers are no longer recommended for new designs. And if that is the case development tools are not likely to be available of a modern design.

Of course, I could be wrong about the tools since I believe the 8051 is the single largest type of microcontroller still in use today…

1 Like
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This help? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCU_8051_IDE

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If you can convince your employer to switch to something more modern, you’ll be in luck. I know that Keil has an 8051 compiler, but I have never used it and it is by no means free.

SDCC is a popular free, open-source C compiler for 8051s (and others).

If your project can stand 10x the cost for something more modern, check out LPC1114FN28, which is an ARM Cortex-M0 in a DIP package.

I suspect your requirement for an 8051 processor is based on legacy code which is “zero cost” to use, except that system designers frequently neglect adaptation and maintenance cost (programmer-months)

1 Like
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Kent,
That’s exactly what I was looking for. And thanks for not being a chip salesman, pushing me into another device without knowing anything about the project.
Cheers and thanks again.
-Brandon

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Apologies. Not trying to sell you on another chip. Good luck with your project.

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…especially in the military, the 8051 family is still going strong

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Raisonance 8051 compiler appears to be free for hobbyist for up to 8K of ROM
http://www.raisonance.com/compare-8051-software.html

IAR offers a ‘kickstart’ version of their Embedded Workbench IDE/debugger/compiler that is fully functional (except for MISRA C support) and no run-time library source code. I’ve used their EW before for both MSP430 and some ARM stuff and it’s pretty good.
http://supp.iar.com/Download/SW/?item=EW8051-EVAL

In the past Keil also offered a code-limited version of their 8051 tool suite, but it’s not clear if that’s available any more.
http://www.keil.com/c51/

Wickenhäuser Elektrotechnik advertises up to 8K free. Tool date is 2005, though.
http://www.wickenhaeuser.de/

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FWIW, Zach is an agreeable guy as long as you don’t talk about VHDL or Python in his presence. :laughing:

He’s definitely not a salesman, but if he was he’d sell you on Maxim products :smiley: