avr_atmega8
Let’s start with some basic terminology used.
Microcontroller A lump of plastic, metal and purified sand, which without any software, does nothing. When software controls a microcontroller, it has almost unlimited applications.
I/O A connection pin to the outside world which can be configured as input or output. I/O is needed in most cases to allow the microcontroller to communicate, control or read information.
Software The information that the Microcontroller needs to operate or run. This needs to be free of bugs and errors for a successful application or product. Software can be written in a variety of languages such as C, Pascal or Assembler (one level up from writing your software in binary).
Hardware The Microcontroller, memory, interface components, power
supplies, signal conditioning circuits and all the components connected to it to make it work and interface to the outside world.
Another way of looking at (especially when it does not work) is that you can kick hardware.
Simulator The MPLAB development environment has its own built-in
simulator which allows access to some of the internal operation of the
microcontroller. This is a good way of testing your designs if you know when events occur. If an event occurs ‘somewhere about there’, you might find the simulator restrictive. Full trace, step and debug facilities are, however, available. Another product for 16C5x development is the
SIM ICE – a hardware simulator offering some of the ICE features but at a fraction of the cost.
In Circuit Emulator (ICEPIC or PICmicro MCU MASTER) a very useful piece of equipment connected between your PC and the socket where the Microcontroller will reside. It enables the software to be run on the PC but look like a Microcontroller at the circuit board end. The ICE allows you to step through a program, watch what happens within the micro and how it communicates with the outside world.
Programmer A unit to enable the program to be loaded into the
microcontroller’s memory which allows it to run without the aid of an ICE. They come in all shapes and sizes and costs vary. Both the PICSTART PLUS and PROMATE II from Microchip connect to the serial port.
Source File A program written in a language the assembler and you
understand. The source file has to be processed before the icrocontroller will understand it.
Assembler / Compiler A software package which converts the Source file into an Object file. Error checking is built in, a heavily used feature in debugging a program as errors are flagged up during the assembly process. MPASM is the latest assembler from Microchip handling all the PIC family.
Object File This is s file produced by the Assembler / Compiler and is in a form which the programmer, simulator or ICE understands to enable it to perform its function. File extension is .OBJ or .HEX depending on the assembler directive.
List File This is a file created by the Assembler / Compiler and contains all the instructions from the Source file together with their hexadecimal values alongside and comments you have written. This is the most useful file to examine when trying to debug the program as you have a greater chance of following what is happening within the software than the Source file listing. The file extension is .LST
Other Files The error file (.ERR) contains a list of errors but does not give any indication as to their origin. The .COD file is used by the emulator.
Bugs Errors created free of charge by you. These range from simpel typin errus to incorrect use of the software language syntax errors. Most of these bugs will be found by the compiler and shown up in a .LST file, others will have to be sought and corrected by trial and error.
Microprocessor A microprocessor or digital computer is made up of three basic sections:
CPU, I/O and Memory – with the addition of some support circuitry.
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