Grantronics: Micro/C Compilers

• What is MICRO-C
• MICRO-C Features
• MICRO-C Function Libraries
• MICRO-C Developers Kits
• MICRO-C Prices
• MICRO-C Companion Products
  • C-FLEA A 'C' virtual machine for small processors - even runs from serial EEPROM
  • MICRO-C/PC MICRO-C for the PC/DOS
  • XASM/DASM A set of Cross Assemblers, Disassemblers and related Utility programs
  • MONITORS Powerful software debugger and monitor programs
  • EMILY52 A PC based 8051/52 simulator. Now includes Emily320 for the Dallas 80C320.
  • Project Plans:
    • EPROM Stand-Alone EPROM programmer.
    • D-BOX Computer Control of VCR’s etc.
    • IR232 Serial (RS-232) controlled "learning" Infared Remote
    • RINGSWITCH Automatic telephone line switch.
    • 8031DESIGNS Several 8031/8051 core system designs.
    • 8051ICE In-circuit emulator for 8051 microcontroller.
    • Plus new projects for a 6809 computer system and control of some Amateur radios.
  • Data Line Monitor
  • Demonstration Disk
• Common Questions and Answers
  • Is MICRO-C just another version of SMALL-C?
  • Does MICRO-C run on a Macintosh or UNIX box?
  • Does MICRO-C output assembly code? Do I need an assembler?
  • Does MICRO-C support the .... (insert your favourite processor)?
  • How much code can I fit in (nK) of memory?
  • Is MICRO-C really as good as you say it is?
  • Is the EMILY52 simulator really that fast?
  • How does EMILY52 compare with a hardware in-circuit emulator?
• Upgrades
• Programmers Editor

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What is MICRO-C?

MICRO-C is a low cost PC based C language compiler optimised for the restricted and specialised environment of embedded microcontrollers. It is produced by Dunfield Development Systems (DDS) in Canada. MICRO-C is portable: currently, there are versions for the 68HC08, 6809, 68HC11, 68HC12, 68HC16, 8051/52, 8080/85, 8086, 8096 families. MICRO-C is supplied as a Developer's Kit with everything you need to develop C and Assembly Language software for a particular CPU.

MICRO-C Features

The MICRO-C compiler is a “subset” of the ANSI C standard . It does however, support much more of the ‘C’ language than most other subset compilers, including:

• All ‘C’ statements: if/else, while, do/while, for, break, continue, return, goto, switch/case/default, {}, ;, asm
• All ‘C’ operators: + - * / % & | ^ << >> > < == ~ ++ -- ?: , . -> += -= *= /= %= &= |= ^= <<= >>= >= <= != ! () [] sizeof && ||
• The following data types: int, char, unsigned (including unsigned char), struct, union, extern, static, register, *(pointer to any type, including pointers and structs), arrays of any type (including multi-dimension, pointers & structs), functions can return any type and typecast of values to other types
• Decimal, Octal and Hex constants. e.g.: 127, 0177, 0x7f
• Full support for strings and character constants: (“hello”, 'A'). Includes: \n \r \t \b \f \177(Octal) \x7F(Hex). 16 bit character constants are supported (‘ab’).
• Inline assembly code (single or multi statement).
• Preprocessor commands:
  • #define (fully parameterized & multi-line)
  • #undef
  • #forget (multi undef - similar to FORTH forget)
  • #include
  • #ifdef/#ifndef/#else/#endif (fully nested)
  • #file (sets filename displayed in error messages)

MICRO-C does NOT support: Typedef, Long / Double / Float / Enumerated data types or Bit fields. 32 bit “long” number math functions are provided in the library. These may be easily adjusted to manipulate numbers up to 256 bits. The 8051 Compiler includes a floating point library.

MICRO-C Function Libraries

The standard libraries include the following functions (there are minor differences between CPUs):

• abort(), abs(), atoi(), chkch(), chkchr(), concat(), disable(), delay(), enable(), free(), getch(), getchr(), getstr(), isalnum(), isalpha(), isascii(), iscntrl(), isdigit(), isgraph(), islower(), isprint(), ispunct(), isspace(), isupper(), isxdigit(), longjmp(), malloc(), max(), memset(), move(), min(), nargs(), peek(), peekw(), poke(), pokew(), printf(), putch(), putchr(), putstr(), rand(), setjmp(), sprintf(), sqrt(), strcat(), strchr(), strcmp(), strcpy(), strlen(), tolower(), toupper().

The "long" number math functions include:

• longadd(), longsub(), longmul(), longdiv(), longshr(), longshl(), longset(), longcpy(), longsts(), longcmp().

DDS MICRO-C Developers Kits

These are complete PC based cross development systems which include EVERYTHING you need to develop ‘C’ and ‘ASM’ software for one CPU.

• Includes MICRO-C compiler, optimizer, XASM cross assembler, and related utilities for the particular CPU.
• Integrated Development Environment. Edit, Compile, Download and Debug from one application. Configurable with lots of options. Many features like multi-file browser, "pop-down" HEX calculator and ASCII character set chart. Command line tools are also included.
• Hand coded (efficient ASM) standard library for CPU (Library source included).
• Includes Monitor/Debugger for CPU (ASM source).
• Includes text editor, telecomm program and many other utilities such as MAKE and TOUCH.
• Complete documentation (on disk).

MICRO-C Prices

NOTES

• The 68HC08 and 68HC16 Developers Kits do not include a monitor/debugger.
• The Super Developers Kit includes all of the Developers Kits + extra assemblers and tools from the XASM package.
• Please add $5 to cover packaging and postage within Australia. Please call for packaging and postage to other countries.
• The Super Developers Kit now includes the new AVR compiler.
• The AVR compiler does not support the AT90S1200 and others without SRAM. ASM is supported on all AVRs. Maximum code output is 64k bytes so Mega103 is not fully supported.
• All prices are in Australian Dollars. MasterCard, Visa and Australian BankCard accepted.

MICRO-C Companion Products

C-FLEA: A complete C virtual machine development and runtime environment

C-FLEA is a "virtual machine", which was designed from the "ground up" to run 'C'. It provides an easy way to implement 'C' on CPU's that are not supported with standard 'C' compilers, are too small/weird for efficent native implemention of C, or use a system design requiring memory that is not directly executable (eg: serial). The C-FLEA can also be used to implement 'C' application languages embedded within other programs, and has many other useful purposes.

• Includes a complete development environment for the C-FLEA VM (Virtual Machine), which contains C compiler, optimiser, library, Assembler, linker, IDE, make, simulator with remote target debug capability and much more. (Similar to MICRO-C Developers Kits, and EMILY52 elsewhere in this page).
• Includes sample virtual machine implementations (ASM source) for:
  6800/01/02/03/08/11/12: parallel
  6805: parallel
  8051/52: I²C serial and parallel
  8086: parallel
  PIC (16C57/58): I²C serial
• VM requires about 1K of code, and only a few bytes of RAM.
• Much faster and more space efficient than language interpreters.
• Can execute from standard (parallel), serial (I²C etc.) memory, or any other memory addressing scheme you may wish to use.
• C-FLEA instruction set is very efficient for C, resulting in large/complex programs requiring minimal (less than expected) code space.
• Tiny/Powerful "C-Stamp" can be built from two chips (CPU+I²C memory).
• This package is licensed for single use. Low cost runtime licensing is available should you wish to re-distribute the VM interpreter.

You can download a demo version of C-FLEA (234k). Note that this is the Micro/C compiler demo.

Check out our GMC75X Microcontroller module designed for running C-FLEA.

MICRO-C/PC: MICRO-C for the PC/DOS

A complete and fully functional version of the MICRO-C compiler for DOS and IBM-PC compatible systems. This has an extensive library with over 240 functions including TSR support, Windowing, Serial Comms and lots more (library source code is included). Over 80 example programs:

• BASIC interpreter, 8086 Assembler, TTY program with file transfer and script language, VGA drawing program, LOTS of games, utilities, TSR's and other useful programs... All with C source!
• A free (Public Domain) MSDOS Assembler and Linker are included as well.

This package was reviewed in the C/C++ User's Journal of January 1995. (3.5" 1.44MB diskette only)

XASM/DASM: A set of Cross Assemblers, Disassemblers and related Utility programs

Assemblers

Includes cross assemblers for the 6800, 6801/6803, 6805, 6502, 68HC08, 6809, 68HC11, 68HC12, 68HC16, 8051/52 8080/85, 8086, 8096 and Atmel AVR families.

• Output files in either INTEL or MOTOROLA hex format.
• Fully compatible with the MICRO-C code generators.
• Many example programs: BASIC interpreter, FORTH compiler and more.

Disassemblers

These are "smart" disassemblers with many features to assist in the generation of complete symbolic, commented ASM source from binary machine code.

• Includes 6800, 6801/6803, 6805, 6502, 68HC08, 6809, 68HC11, 68HC16, 8051/52, 8080/85, 8086, 8096 and Atmel AVR cross disassemblers
• Generates listing or ASM source format output file.
• Accepts user defined symbol table. Can build initial symbol table from references occuring within the input code.
• Accepts user defined block types (code, byte data, word data, char data, string data, symbolics allowed etc) and address ranges.
• Accepts file of comments to be merged into the disassembly output
• Fully compatible with the XASM cross assemblers.

Utility Programs

Utility programs included:

• MACRO - Powerful macro preprocessor.
• CREF - Cross-references symbol usage in ASM source files.
• PSOURCE - Protects distributed source code.
• HEXFMT - General HEX file manipulation, including:
  • Calculate checksums over all or part of code file.
  • Reformat output record type (INTEL/MOTOROLA/BINARY) and length.
  • Change base and load address of code image.
  • Remove strings of 0xFF (unused) data bytes.
• RETAB - Retabulates output file to specified tab stops.

Plus: Utilities for converting to/from other popular assembler formats.

You can download a demo version of XASM (47k) or DASM (28k). Remember, you get both in the one package!

MONITORS: Powerful software debugger and monitor programs.

• Monitors for 6809, 68HC11, 8051/52, 8080/85, 8086 and 8096.
• Includes XASM compatible, well documented source code.
• Completely stand-alone, runs on the bare hardware (uses on chip UART when available)
• Very compact, occupies less than 8K of ROM.
• Built in disassembler.
• Edit/Dump Memory, Processor registers and Interrupt vectors.
• Multiple breakpoints, which are completely transparent to the user program, and remain effective until removed.
• Software Single-Step works even when tracing ROMed code.
• Download INTEL or MOTOROLA format hex data.
• Re-vector any/all interrupts to the user program.
• Online help display of commands and syntax.
• Many more features.

NOTE: Some features may differ slightly in some monitors.
Price includes all six monitors.

EMILY52: A PC based 8051/52 simulator. Now includes Emily320 for the Dallas 80C320.

A software simulator/emulator for the Intel 8051/8052 series of microcontrollers. EMILY features an easy to use “windowed” user interface, and is capable of simulating at better than 500,000 instructions per second on a 486/33MHz PC.

• Supports full 64K of PROGRAM and 64K of DATA memory. DATA and PROGRAM memory may also be overlapped into a single 64K address space.
• Optionally interfaces with a Resident Control Program (supplied) on your target system which allows you to include the physical I/O lines, timers, serial port etc. in your simulation.
• Single step, Multi Step, Animate and High Speed execution modes, with 4095 instruction traceback recorder in all modes.
• Simultaneous on-screen displays of program disassembly, internal memory, CPU registers and simulation messages.
• Full screen editors for CPU registers, Special Function Registers (SFR’s), and each of the INTERNAL, EXTERNAL DATA and PROGRAM memory spaces. All of the above may be viewed/altered at any time during the debugging session.
• Multiple breakpoints are transparent to the user program.
• Supports the additional SFR’s and internal RAM of the 8052 series, and is user configurable for additional SFR’s of expanded chips.
• Serial I/O in a window on the screen, or redirected to a PC COM port.
• Includes MONICA52, a PC hosted monitor program for in-circuit debugging, with a user interface that’s virtually identical to EMILY52.
• Supports single-chip in-circuit emulation using the Dallas DS5000 CPU.
• Includes Emily320 for the Dallas 80C320.

You can download a demo version of Emily52 (80k).

Project Plans:

This package include all of the necessary schematics, software and documentation to construct the six described devices.

EPROM: Stand-Alone EPROM programmer.

• Supports 2716, 2732, 2764, 27128 and 27256 type devices.
• Controlled by keypad/LED display, or over remote serial link.
• On-Board memory for loading, editing and re-programming.
• Upload/Download INTEL or MOTOROLA hex files.
• Uses a dedicated 6809 microcontroller.

D-BOX: Computer Control of VCR’s etc.

• Controls virtually all VCR, CAMCORDER etc. functions.
• Reports current MODE, STATUS and TAPE COUNTER of VCR.
• Control up to 8 devices using CONTROL-L (LANC).
• RS-232 serial interface to host computer.

IR232: Serial (RS-232) controlled "learning" Infared Remote

• Control stereo, TV, VCR and any other device using an I/R remote control from your computer.
• Includes PC based "I/R code editor", and demo C program.

RINGSWITCH: Automatic telephone line switch.

• Interprets “distinctive ringing” (ident-a-call) and directs incoming call to one of three jacks.
• Gives “busy” to any sets that go off-hook while line in use.

8031 DESIGNS: Several 8031/8051 core system designs

• No (0K), Shared (64K) and Separate (128K) external memory configurations.
• Standard and Debug (RAM as pseudo-ROM with download).

8051 ICE: In-circuit emulator for 8051 microcontroller.

• Supports download/debugging of SINGLE-CHIP 8051 designs.
• Uses DALLAS DS5000 or DS2250 8051 derivative.
• Serial interface to PC.
• Compatible with the Dunfield EMILY/MONICA software.

* NEW *

CUBIX: Complete 6809 computer system with floppy disk interface

• Over 100 system service calls, very flexible and powerful.
• Many application and utility programs, languages, etc.

DARC: General purpose Amateur Radio/Repeater Controller.

ICOM: CI-V Computer control interface for ICOM Amateur radios.

HTX242: Computer control of the RS HTX242 radio via microphone data signals.

NOTE: Price includes all listed project plans

DLM: Data Line Monitor.

Turns your PC into a DATASCOPE.
This program monitors both sides of an asynchronous data communications line using a passive “Y” cable which connects to the monitored devices and BOTH com ports of your PC (COM1 and COM2). This tool is invaluable for debugging ANY asynchronous connection, such as TERMINALS, MODEMS, SERIAL PRINTERS and PROTOCOL debugging. It allows you to actually SEE the data and signals being passed between the devices.

• Easy to use menu driven interface.
• “Split Line” display for easy viewing of the interaction between two devices. Display is updated in “real time”.
• Over 50 screens may be “buffered” and reviewed later.
• Displays and stores hardware signal information as well as all data passed between the devices.
• Captured buffers may be saved to disk for later reference.
• Monitors at 110, 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600,19200 bps
• Includes directions for constructing your own “Y” cable (requires a PC with two COM ports).
• Comes with a Line Error Simulator, an ANSI Terminal program and a VT-100 (ANSI) terminal test program.

You can download a demo version of DLM (29k).

Demonstration Disk

High density diskette (1.2 or 1.4Mb) containing freeware and demo versions of DDS software. This diskette includes many example programs, and LOTS of source code (‘C’ and ASM) including DLM, EMILY52, code to run on a PC without DOS (embedded PC), a simple VGA drawing system, DOS-based Help system, MICRO-C demos, DOS file and directory utilities and XASM/DASM.

If you can't wait for a full demo disk, you can download the Micro-C Embedded Controller Compiler demo now (about 236k). Remember to use the -d switch with pkunzip when you expand the demo archive.

Here is a complete list of the demo files on the demo disk (updated 19 Dec 1998).

* = Remember to use the -d switch with pkunzip when you expand the demo archive.

For more demo files, have a look at the Dunfield Development Systems download page.

Common Questions and Answers

Q: Is MICRO-C just another version of SMALL-C?

A: No, MICRO-C is a completely new design, with several advantages:

• Supports more of the ‘C’ language: structs & unions, unsigned int & char, pointers to pointers, arrays of pointers, multi-dimension arrays, typecasting, sizeof, parameterized and multi-line defines ...
• Much more efficent code generated, much faster compilation.
• More portable: MICRO-C was designed to support many CPU architectures.

Q: Does MICRO-C run on a Macintosh or UNIX box?

A: At the present time, all of our official products run on the IBM PC under DOS or a DOS compatible operating system. We may be able to provide unofficial ports to other platforms, however technical support will be minimal. Contact us for more information.

Q: Does MICRO-C output assembly code? Do I need an assembler?

A: MICRO-C generates assembly code. All developers kits include our XASM cross assembler, which our CC commands automatically run for you, giving you a “one step” compile. A command option allows you to include the ‘C’ source code as comments in the ASM listing.

Q: Does MICRO-C support the .... (insert your favourite processor)?

A: See the earlier sections of this Information Sheet for a list of processors which are directly supported. We have application notes on adapting the compiler to use with CPU variants (such as extra registers/ports or differing memory maps).
If you need support for a different processor, please check with us. Dunfield Development Systems may be planning a release for the processor you want (or perhaps you can “convince” us/them that it would be a good idea).
Or, consider the C-FLEA system - it may already have been ported to your CPU.

Q: How much code can I fit in (nK) of memory?

A: That depends on so many factors that it's impossible to give you a general answer. It is usually more than you would think, because MICRO-C produces fairly compact code. This is especially true with our “Developers Kits”, because their libraries are hand-coded in assembly language, using very tight code. Here are some example applications:

• MICRO-C Compiler (compiled itself!) 23k
• ANSI terminal with built in XMODEM file transfer 10k
• Combination lock (rotary encoder, led indicator) 2k
• Telephone “distinctive ring” switcher (1-3 lines) 1.5k

Q: Is MICRO-C really as good as you say it is?

A: "Sturgeons Rule has it that 90% of science fiction is junk. A similar rule applies to PC software, but I’d say that 90% is a lower bound. Once in a while, though, you find a product that makes up for the rest.. If price has kept you out of the microcontroller C market, you have no further excuses. Micro-C is as good as it gets!"
- Circuit Cellar INK Dec91/Jan92

"I just obtained Micro C, and I’m very impressed!... The portability of Micro C is second-to-none, as is it’s professionally written code and overall usability... I need to emphasize here that Micro C is by far the best coded compiler I’ve ever seen. This excellent code quality extends throughout all associated modules."
- FIDOnet ‘C’ programmers echo

"In generating code for this column, I turn my attention to Dunfield's Micro-C 8051 products. The developer's package provides everything you need to develop embedded programs for 8051 family processors and includes a C compiler, assembler, optimizer, linker, librarian, a bunch of useful utilities, and a full library source of a variety of memory models, examples, and documentation. What amazes me most about this product is that the full package goes for about a third of what I paid for my first 8051 cross-assembler alone! Dunfield's package is a reminder to not let a price tag fool you. I've used a lot of the market's big-buck packages and Dunfield's compares favourably in efficiency and code size. As for the price, there is no comparison."
- John Dybowski, Circuit Cellar Ink, Issue #58 May 1995.

Q: Is the EMILY52 simulator really that fast?

A: EMILY’s speed is dependant on your PC (>150,000 inst/sec on 386/25, >500,000 inst/sec on 486/33). Tests have shown EMILY on the 386/25 to be roughly equivalent to a 4MHz 8052. For example, a customer reported that an algorithm he had calculated would take about 1 second on a 12MHz 8052 took 3 seconds under EMILY. In contrast, the same program took over 20 MINUTES when run with another popular simulator.

Q: How does EMILY52 compare with a hardware in-circuit emulator?

A: Emily, with its hardware emulation option, permits access to the timers and I/O ports of the hardware, however external memory on the target system cannot be accessed (EMILY provides its own code and data areas using the PC’s memory). This is usually only important if you have hardware which is accessed through the external memory address space.
At present, EMILY does not act on interrupts from the target system, but allows you to simulate them from the PC keyboard. When an interrupt is simulated, EMILY sets any hardware bits which would normally be set by that interrupt, and then vectors to the interrupt handler. Although this prevents using “real time” interrupts, I have found it to be a very effective approach when debugging interrupt handlers. You can stop the simulation at any point, inject an interrupt, and then step through the interrupt handler etc. EMILY has a 4095 instruction traceback buffer, which operates in all execution modes, however it only records the instructions executed. In other words, you can scroll/search through the last 4095 instructions which were executed in order to see “how it got here”. More expensive ICE’s often have traceback buffers which record both the address and data bus activity.
EMILY now includes MONICA, a PC hosted debugger, that debugs ON-CHIP, by downloading your code, and controlling it through a tiny on-board kernel program. MONICA’s user interface is virtually identical to EMILY’s, and the kernel is upward compatible with EMILY.
This means that you can easily switch back and forth between EMILY and MONICA, and use whichever is best suited to the debugging at hand. MONICA can use the on-chip memory of a DALLAS DS5000 processor, making it a true single-chip in-circuit emulator when used with this device.
EMILY/MONICA is much less expensive than any ICE!

Upgrades

All Dunfield Development Systems software upgrades are priced at 50% of the new product price rounded up to the nearest dollar plus the standard shipping and packaging charge. You must be able to supply your existing serial number before we can accept your upgrade order.

Programmer's Editor  If you are looking for something better than the Dunfield IDE editor, we recommend (and use) ED for Windows. It is a great Australian product at a very reasonable price and leaves all the IDE editors I have seen in the dust... ;-).

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Last updated: 26 March 2004

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