Summary

Jonathan Valvano's new text provides students with an introduction to the field of microcomputer programming and interfacing using the Motorola 6811 and 6812 chips. The objective of this book is to present basic computer architecture, teach assembly language programming, and introduce microcomputer interfacing. Valvano develops these topics around the TExaS simulator. Included free with the book on CD, the TExaS simulator is a self-contained program for testing microcomputer hardware and software. The simulator shows activity internal to the chip so one can experience the architecture by observing activity inside the microcomputer. Also, TExaS provides the ability to connect external hardware devices like switches, LEDs, LCDs, keyboards, serial port devices, motors, and analog circuits. One can use TExaS to learn microcomputer programming and interfacing, develop software in assembly language using the TExaS assembler, and program in C using a cross-compiler. Compared with Valvano's more advanced book titled "Embedded Microcomputer Systems: Real Time Interfacing," this book contains more hands on use of the TExaS simulator and places less emphasis on theory.