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Building better software
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10/01/2005
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Most of the engineering fraternity would concede there’s more to programming a microcontroller than meets the eye. The dichotomy is, because they are relatively simple to program, without paying too much attention to the efficiency of the program, a high level of functionality can be achieved at a low cost without putting too much effort in to writing efficient programs. And as the performance to pound ratio is still high, good code discipline isn’t necessarily high on the list of priorities.
More often than not, a low to medium range 8bit microcontroller becomes I/O limited in the typical application before the cpu runs out of processing power. If more power is needed, a move to the next biggest part wouldn’t necessarily break the bank. Beyond that moving to a 16bit device would represent a significant shift in complexity but still at a relatively affordable price.
At least, that used to be the case. Because ‘low end’ microcontrollers have typically been synonymous with ‘last generation’ processing technology, manufacturers have been able to keep costs down while still delivering a good level of functionality. However, the acceleration in new process adoption could see that happy balance being challenged. With some device manufacturers now moving to 90nm production, customer expectation could force adoption of more expensive process technology across the board. This in turn could push the price of microcontrollers up. That isn’t to say the low cost devices will disappear, but it could mean moving up the performance scale when you may not necessarily need to could become an expensive decision. With that in mind, it makes sense to get the most out of the lowest cost device. So what are the top tips for efficient program development in 8bit microcontrollers?
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Author
Philip Ling
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