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Tools for AVR assembly programing
This page introduces the first steps for programming in assembler using the STK500
board and the ATMEL-Studio 3
(version 3.52). This version of the studio includes all necessary steps for writing
and programming software for the AVR devices. The following steps are shown:
- editing a source file,
- assemble the source file, and
- the simulator.
The necessary software tools are distributed on
ATMEL's webpage. Tools are
© ATMEL.Different versions of the
studio might look different to the ones shown here. This is not a handbook, it is just
a short introduction for the start. Installation of the studio software is not shown
here. After starting Studio you should see the following picture:
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An assembler program is a simple text file. In order to include different informations
other than source informations the studio defines a project. We start with creating a
new project. We have to define a name for the project, its location and the assembler
we would like to assemble our source code with.
This opens a new project view.
By clicking the right button of the mouse while we are over the assembler files
section we can select to create a new source file.
Within the editor window we type in our source code. This one just turns lamps on port
B on and off.
Note that the studio recognizes commands (like LDI) only if you type them in small
letters (who invented that?). Labels and defined constants are not recognized, even if
defined properly (Tan's editor is still better than
ATMEL's). Also note that the position
of the include-files has been changed in this version.
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After typing in we assemble the program. In the project window we click on the right
mouse button ans select assemble. The result is that a new message window opens.
If you get error messages here you have to debug the source code.
The program is ready now for download into the AVR chip, which is not described here
further.
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If serious bugs have to be found or more complex routines have to be tested you can
simulate program execution.
In that case we select build and run. In the source code a yellow marker points to the
next line of code to be executed next.
The key F11 steps through the source code and executes the next command. In order to
see what is going on in the register section we first open a register view window. The
LDI instruction loads hex-FF to the register R16.
The next command writes to the data direction register of port B. We can open a view
window of the ports to see what is going on. The following is happening when we execute
the OUT command to DDRB.
After execution of the second OUT command (hex-AA to port B) we see the change in the
port's data register.
Studio has a lot more opportunities build in for other purposes that can't be discussed
here in detail. So try out the other ones.
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©2002 by http://www.avr-asm-tutorial.net
