Customer Reviews

C and the 8051 (4th edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent book on using C on the 8051. It includes easy-to-follow diagrams, code examples, and simplified schematic examples of interface circuits. This book walks you through multiple approaches to problems and suggests which ones are most worthwhile. About half the book is about C coding techniques, the op codes that you are trying to generate with the C code, and the basic nuts and bolts of the 8051. The other half is about how to handle specific tasks are often required of an 8051 in common applications, including how to handle multi-tasking, user interface ideas, interfacing to measurement devices, and interfacing to power electronics. The tone of the writing and diagrams is that of an experienced developer standing with you in front of a white board.

This book would be helpful to undergrad students who are just learning about embedded programming and experienced engineers with only limited experience in embedded development. The focus is on the 8051 (with some specific discussion of the Si Labs tools), but a lot of it would be helpful for a project with any embedded processor.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, even experienced developers, who works on 8051 projects.

As the author I am prejudiced, but I think you will find the fourth edition much better than the early hardcover ones (and there are virtually no footnotes). This book is quite inexpensive and really represents material for 4 books: 8051 basics with C programming, microcomputer interfacing, real-time programming, and serial communication. As a (retired) teacher I know there is far more material than could be used in one course, so it can serve as a reference book in addition to a textbook. My informal style is not meant to be imprecise, but it IS intended to lead the reader to develop his or her own style. For further discussion search for my web page by the book's title.

This book is a good starting point for individuals that have C/C++ programming experience and have been exposed to some form of Assembler coding. It teaches by example more than theory. Many concepts presented in this book are fundamental to those who have written device-drivers or other real-time software. I was able to read the first 140 pages in approximately 3 hours. However, I am 22 year veteran of mixed-signal IC design and write about 20k lines of code a year to develop and test my products. I have never programmed with an 8051 before and I quickly came up to speed and program an 8051 using the Keil compiler. I use the book more as a reference manual for C constructs unique to the 8051. This book was a good tool for jump starting me on how to work with the 8051.

I liked this a lot, but reading other reviews I concede that it might not be a book for novices, for instance it isn't a book to learn C from, my opinion.

I've been around micros but on the "inside" as a chip designer and I needed to get up to speed on the 8051 as a user. Compared to books I've pored over recently this is very good, a densely detailed reference.

I needed to get my head around IDE tools and RTOS concepts. He does a good job on RTOS by delving into an implementation of his own, a great way to do it, I won't use that code, but it helps get the ideas grokked.

I read this along with another book Embedded C which is deliberately and necessarily more abstracted. It talks more about good code and file structures. This book because it gives brief snippets of code doesn't get into that so much.

Both books use Keil tools also, so I found them a complementary pair. Though this book does get a bit wrapped up in SiLabs "quirks", I don't see how else to get around this, the value of pairing with a given platform is real.

I saw some other comments on layout which I didn't see as a problem - I'd rather have dense data than whitespace - it's already quite a tome. The style is very personal, but I liked it and suspect I'd like Thomas too.

Saw some negative comment about presentation and narrative, I disagree think the approach is a good one and subtler than you might think - gets you going quickly with the language and tools and then does the deep dive you need to get really going

Nice job Thomas!!

Excelente material de estudio y aprendizaje en el campo de los Microcontroladores
Cubre los Topicos mas relevantes en Programacion de Tiempo Real y es una
exclelente guia para realizar hardware y software para sistemas Embebidos

That is not the problem. The problem is that the autor is not precise. Many of the calculations are experimentaly made or don't match reality.
I haven`t finished to read the book and I have found unconcluded text in at least two pages.
On the other hand, the book is a good guide and give you some tips that are dificult to find in other place.

It seems like on every other page of this book, half of the page is footnotes. Gives me a headache with my eyes jumping up and down the page. If the author can not seamlessly weave his ideas into one continuous narrative, or doesn't know when to leave out irrelevant information, how can you expect to be educated?

One of the most confusing, unhelpful books on C programming for microcontrolers. The examples are ambigious and just plane impossible to decipher

Product is great, and a good read. However, I ordered overnight shipping in mid morning and did not receive it until 2 days later.