From: apn@Apple.COM (Alex Novickis)
Newsgroups: comp.realtime
Subject: Re: realtime kernel for 8051
Date: 24 Jul 92 21:10:11 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA


>>In article <70352@apple.Apple.COM> you write:
>>
>>I've had real problems with franklin, and I would, If I had to do it over
>>gone with some other vendor.


	I've recieved some E-MAIL asking to post the specific problems I've
experienced with Franklin S/W... So here goes:

	Bugs I've found in S/W to date  -

Assembler   - 1) Tabs in src file do not expand to correct placing in listing
              2) Certain errors in src file will print an error but no line #
		 SRC Line to long will do this for example.
	      3) Reported line number of error does not always match actual
		 line number of error.

		I can deal with #1, but #2 & #3 ??? Come on guys.... I can write
	an assembler in a week and not have those problems.

Debugger/Simulator

	    - 1) Can log to disk file output of some of the commands, but not 
	         all. Noteably, can't save output of disasm listing.

	    - 2) Register display is limited to register bank 0


	    - 3) Demo & S/W has nice looking mouse scroll type bars on window.
		 Too bad they don't support mice.

Symbolic debugger 

	    - 1) Doesn't access symbols all the time. Seemed to work OK for
                 very small files, though. 

            - 2) Crashes (The debugger running on PC Host) when doing display
	         memory commands (and others)


Debug monitor
	    - 1) No clues are given anywhere in the manual as to how this
		software is to be installed in the target. The best answer
		I got from franklin was to buy their development card. It
		was not totally unreasonable in price, but they quoted me 
		months for delivery.


CPU support - 1) Originally when I called and asked them about how they
		 support other 51 derivatives, they said it does. Well, 
		 I guess it does, but you have to make your own register
		 definition files (They include for 51, 52 and one other
		 CPU,  I forget which). The debugger/simulator doesn't
		 support them at all.

		 
And for the best problem I've had with Franklin... I bought the "Professional
Development" package from them. I sent in the registration card. Two months
later I called to order the upgrade package. They said that I had not 
registered my original S/W with them, and they could not process an order
withouth that. I explained that I sent in the registration and that was all
I could do. They proceeded to tell me that since they have not received the
registration I would have to get another registration card (for $25.00) and
send it in again. I did that & ordered the ($599) upgrade. Four months later
I still have yet to see it.

If I call and ask for tech support, I can usually get someone to return a
call within a week, but they usually say things like "Well, It works for me"
and they refer me to example files. When I find problems within the example
files, they say they will look into it on the next release. Part of problem
is Franklin is a two person company as best I can tell and most of the s/w
was written by people who are not available to them.

I also have their compiler, and I called and asked for a reference guide
to the library that they provided me - There is none available, I was told.

I did manage to get my project done, but, I'm not impressed with their
attitude nor their product.




-- 
Alex P. Novickis, Real Time systems demi-guru.  (W)   408-370-4541
ALINK:alex.n                                    
UUCP:{amdahl,claris,pyramid,sun,decwrl,well,ubvax,ames}!apn@apple.com,apn@nonvon
"I think... I think it's in my basement. Let me go upstairs and check"-Escher.