Programming Microcontrollers in C (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Programming is a contact sport..." (more)
Key Phrases: output compare system, unused vector, depress interrupt, Von Neumann, Interrupt Autovector, Enable Fast Interrupts (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It should be required reading even in computer curricula, where embedded systems get virtually no mention." -- EDN Access

"Van Sickle's book will quickly pay for itself. . ."
--Dr. Dobb's Journal

"The book covers the essentials of C, programming actual microcontrollers, and discusses real world examples as well as theoretical models."
--Embedded Systems Programming Product News

"A must-read for engineers trying to get a handle on software issues . . . I get a constant stream of queries for introductory texts to the embedded-systems world. This is the book. It should be required reading even in computer curriculum, where embedded systems get virtually no mention."
--EDN -- Review --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"Van Sickle's book will quickly pay for itself. . ."
--Dr. Dobb's Journal

"The book covers the essentials of C, programming actual microcontrollers, and discusses real world examples as well as theoretical models."
--Embedded Systems Programming Product News

"A must-read for engineers trying to get a handle on software issues . . . I get a constant stream of queries for introductory texts to the embedded-systems world. This is the book. It should be required reading even in computer curriculum, where embedded systems get virtually no mention."
--EDN
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 394 pages
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group; Bk&CD-Rom edition (May 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878707140
• ISBN-13: 978-1878707147
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,787,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Title Should Be: Programming Motorola Microcontrollers, May 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Programming Microcontrollers in C, Second Edition (Embedded Technology Series) (Paperback)

This book is written by a retired Motorola guy and it shows. Van Sickle all but ignores other processors and all of his examples are based on Motorola controllers and C compilers. He's also a bit out of date in many areas.

Much of the book is centered around older (non-flash) Motorola parts. He mentions some of the newer ones here and there, but it's obvious the bulk of the author's experience and the first edition of the book pre-date the newer parts.

The book doesn't really go into a lot of detail in any one area, but instead tries to cover a lot of ground using assorted examples and code snipets. Many of the examples may or may not be useful depending on what you're trying to do.

The book isn't geared towards total novices, as it doesn't really start from ground zero. The author assumes you know the hardware side of things, how to run a development project and the basics of working in C. There are two chapters that sort of gloss over the C language, but they're not complete enough for a novice. Unfortunately, he doesn't go into many specifics in those chapters on how C applies to a embedded project so they're kind of a waste of ink.

All in all, I don't think this book is worth anywhere near its ...list price. If you're interested in the Motorola M68HC05, HC08, HC11, HC12 or HC16, however, it might be worthwhile for some readers.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT a book about writing C code for microcontrollers, April 27, 2002

By	"wildboarinn" (Rocklin, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Programming Microcontrollers in C, Second Edition (Embedded Technology Series) (Paperback)

This book starts out with 120 pages of fluff C - mediocre at best and NOT why I bought the book. Then it discusses briefly what microcontrollers are - seemed more like a bunch of scattered notes on the topic thrown together - again NOT why I bought the book. Then it dives into Motorola chips and spends many pages talking about them - NOT why I bought this book. Then the author uses really useless examples like sort routines (like that happens in microcontrollers a lot - better examples would have helped here) to illustrate whatever it was he was trying to illustrate. Over all the book had the feel that the author tossed a bunch of lecture notes together, some poor cut and paste C examples in the beginning and then just simply got lost in his mission to show us how to program microcontrollers in C. The reason I bought this book was to learn what I could and could not do with C. I wanted to find out where C ended and assembly code "had" to take over. I wanted good in-line programming techniques, addressing schemes, code techniques, the best ways to implement monitors, slick ways to manipulate registers.. This book was about Motorola chips and some strange examples of how to program them. The book should NOT be called Programming Microcontrollers in C - maybe something like, Some Touchy Feely Intro To C and Motorola Chips With Sort Functions.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Book's name should be Programming MOTOROLA Microcontrollers in C, November 9, 1998

By A Customer

This book is easy to read and understand. However, it is too specific to Motorola microcontrollers. At times it is difficult to determine whether a limitation or advantage listed is specific to the Motorola microntroller being referenced or whether it applies to microcontrollers in general