For Software writing and mild simulation the tool used is Visual Micro Lab. Visual Micro Lab, generally referred as VMLAB, is a virtual prototyping design framework especially for AVR and ST6 controllers. VMLAB complier is used to write code for avr microcontrollers for example atmega 16 microcontroller. In this article you will learn how to use it for writing your first project for avr microcontroller. It is getting started guide for avr microcontroller coding. you can download the VMLAB software from following link:
It is a combination of:
- A powerful multi-window multi-file text
- A microcontroller IDE, with integrated tool
- A symbolic
- A mixed-mode analog-digital circuit
- A code quality checker.
you may also like to read what is best way to  learn avr microcontroller
VMLAB provides with a true virtual microcontrollers design lab, in which the hardware and the software of are co-simulated. To develop an application with VMLAB, the following general steps are required:
- Start the VMLAB program by clicking on: Start >> Programs >> VMLAB
- Create a Project File, selecting the microcontroller and software modules. Use the command New Project, Open Project or Open Last Project to work in a project created
create project in VMLAB After that select a microcontroller you are using in your project. Check the following figure:
- Add or modify the hardware around the micro in the Project To ease these tasks use the Components menu.
- Create or modify the software modules defined in Step 1, using the built-in text.The software modules are placed in the Code Notebook window.
- Build the hw/sw Database, using the command build. Any error/warning will be shown in the Messages The automatic in-line error reporting feature of VMLAB allows a fast error location, going directly to the source line responsible for the error: just double click in the reported error.
- When all errors are removed, VMLAB enables the green light button. Click on it to run application. At these step variables, hardware signals, the microcontroller’s registers; memory and peripherals can be
- When application behavior is OK, get the target .HEX file, ready to burn the micro EPROM, OTP, etc.
This is all about this tutorial and guid on visual micro lab. If you feel any issue while using it, let me know with your comments. thanks 🙂
Nice Work.