Three steps for learning 51 microcontroller

Looking back, it has been six years since I first learned about microcontrollers. During the study period, I used 51 microcontrollers, Freescale microcontrollers, STM16, STM32 and other microcontrollers. Every time I come into contact with a new microcontroller, I will first familiarize myself with its basic development, and then understand it in depth through the implementation of the project.

Everyone knows that the 51 microcontroller is the easiest to learn, not only because of its simple programming, but also because there is a wealth of information on the Internet and it is very convenient to search. Therefore, people who want to engage in microcontroller development generally use the 51 microcontroller as their first choice for entry-level development. And I am no exception. When I was learning the 51 microcontroller, I basically followed this idea.

The first step (familiar with the process): Because I majored in electronics, I first made a 51 minimum system using a breadboard. In order to feel the microcontroller more intuitively, I added a digital tube to it.

As for programming, I didn't deliberately memorize it at the beginning. I mainly looked at the template code given by others and edited it once. I just copied it (definitely not copying and pasting. If you copy and paste, you will lose it), and then Burn the program you wrote into the microcontroller and run it to see if the microcontroller can work normally according to the program.

The second step (advanced process): After developing some feelings, I bought a 51 microcontroller development board, and then began to learn more about the 51 microcontroller. When the board first came back, I didn't watch the video tutorials, but still followed the textbook. Now it seems that I really made a mistake at that time. At that time, the learning that day felt weird. Later, I followed the video. After learning the functions on the board, I roughly understood the role of the 51 microcontroller.

In terms of program, we need to start making modifications. For example, the eight-digit running water lamp used to be from left to right, but now it is changed from right to left. 1, 3, 5, and 7 are on, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are off. Just do these final steps. Simple modification, rewrite the corresponding program yourself and then run it. To put it simply, it means establishing your own logic, learning to use it flexibly, and turning other people's programs into your own.

The third step (project actual phase): At that time, we were doing graduation project. I formed a small team with another classmate who was studying software and chose a small project for development. The conditions were relatively difficult at that time, mainly because the two of us had no money and wanted to save some money. On the basis of using the previous development board, we added a simple peripheral, which we made purely by hand. We were a little clever at that time. We first made the peripherals and then tested them with a development board. After confirming that there were no problems with the peripherals, we went back to making the 51 board. Then use peripherals to test whether the board you made can work properly. In this way, our first project and graduation project were completed.

The above three learning steps are the entire process of learning the 51 microcontroller by myself. I do a lot of manual operations. Now there may not be such difficult conditions. Many things are ready-made, but the hands-on practice part is also indispensable. If you have the opportunity, do it more. After all, you can gain a lot of experience by doing it, which will also be of great help in future work.