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tools_for_the_silabs_and_other_8051_micro_controllers [2015/01/25 09:45] ko4bb |
tools_for_the_silabs_and_other_8051_micro_controllers [2015/01/25 09:48] ko4bb |
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| ==== Silabs IDE (Integrated Development Environment) ==== | ==== Silabs IDE (Integrated Development Environment) ==== | ||
| - | The Silabs IDE is an older piece of code, which includes text editing, incremental compilation support, flash upload and real time, non-intrusive debugging via JTAG (on the larger chips) or a slick 2 wire interface (C2) on the smaller chips like the F330. Functionality of the loader/debugger is exactly the same via the JTAG or C2 interfaces. | + | The Silabs IDE is an older but fully functional piece of code, which includes text editing, incremental compilation support, flash upload and real time, non-intrusive debugging via JTAG (on the larger chips) or a slick 2 wire interface (C2) on the smaller chips like the F330. Functionality of the loader/debugger is exactly the same via the JTAG or C2 interfaces. |
| - | The Silabs IDE is no longer actively maintained by Silabs, other than adding support for new chips. The download version of the IDE has always been named mcu_ide.exe. There is no version information in the file name. So, make sure you keep a copy of whatever version of the IDE you download by renaming it something like mcu_ide-vx.x.x.exe instead of simply deleting it after you have installed the program. Otherwise, they are all named mcu_ide.exe and a newer download will overwrite the older version. By keeping the old version, you always have the capability to go back if you need a feature that has been removed. I wish I had done that from the beginning, as I have a few development kits that are unusable because the files supporting them are not in the current IDE and I did not keep a copy of the old version. | + | The Silabs IDE does not appear to be actively maintained by Silabs, other than adding support for new chips. The download version of the IDE has always been named mcu_ide.exe. There is no version information in the file name. So, make sure you keep a copy of whatever version of the IDE you download by renaming it something like mcu_ide-vx.x.x.exe instead of simply deleting it after you have installed the program. Otherwise, they are all named mcu_ide.exe and a newer download will overwrite the older version. By keeping the old version, you always have the capability to go back if you need a feature that has been removed. I wish I had done that from the beginning, as I have a few development kits that are unusable because the files supporting them are not in the current IDE and I did not keep a copy of the old version. |
| About the hardware, Silabs has a number of JTAG/C2 adapters. The Toolstick Base adapter ($18) works with the Toolstick modules (~$10), but you can buy a ~$10 JTAG adapter that allows to use the Toolstick Base with regular JTAG interface for the larger chips that don't come on a Toolstick. This is a little clunky, but it works, I use it. They also have a regular JTAG/C2/USB adapter, and an older JTAG/C2/Serial adapter. I have all of them. They cost about $50. I have found fully compatible JTAG adapters on eBay under the reference EC-6 that work well and cost about $15. I have one and it works well. | About the hardware, Silabs has a number of JTAG/C2 adapters. The Toolstick Base adapter ($18) works with the Toolstick modules (~$10), but you can buy a ~$10 JTAG adapter that allows to use the Toolstick Base with regular JTAG interface for the larger chips that don't come on a Toolstick. This is a little clunky, but it works, I use it. They also have a regular JTAG/C2/USB adapter, and an older JTAG/C2/Serial adapter. I have all of them. They cost about $50. I have found fully compatible JTAG adapters on eBay under the reference EC-6 that work well and cost about $15. I have one and it works well. | ||