The Definitive Guide to the ARM Cortex-M3

This user's guide does far more than simply outline the ARM Cortex-M3 CPU features; it explains step-by-step how to program and implement the processor in real-world designs. It teaches readers how to utilize the complete and thumb instruction sets in order to obtain the best functionality, efficiency, and reuseability. The author, an ARM engineer who helped develop the core, provides many examples and diagrams that aid understanding. Quick reference appendices make locating specific details a snap!

Whole chapters are dedicated to:
Debugging using the new CoreSight technology
Migrating effectively from the ARM7
The Memory Protection Unit
Interfaces, Exceptions,Interrupts
,,.and much more!

*The only available guide to programming and using the groundbreaking ARM Cortex-M3 processor

*Easy-to-understand examples, diagrams, quick reference appendices, full instruction and Thumb-2 instruction sets are all included

*The author, an ARM engineer on the M3 development team, teaches end users how to start from the ground up with the M3, and how to migrate from the ARM7

User review
A Decent Overall Discussion of the Cortex-M3 Architecture
I purchased this book despite at least one scathing reviewer's criticism. The Author states specifically in the preface, `This book is intended to be a lighter read for programmers, embedded product designers, System-on-a-Chip (SOC) engineers, electronics enthusiasts, academic researchers, and others with some experience of microcontrollers or microprocessors who are investigating the Cortex-M3 processor.` I interpret that to mean the book has a wide audience in mind, some with less experience than others. That said, I found this book to be on par with those written by various authors for the Newness series on Microchips products

The book has a good overview of the architecture without focusing on any one vendor's implementation. However, I felt that I would have liked to see a brief comparison of some of the various vendor offerings and what the key architectural components were implemented or left out. It can be argued that a vendor data sheet is the appropriate place for such information; just be aware this book is a general survey. The discussion in the back of the book on the Keil and GNU tool chains turned out to be non-essential for myself as I am using IAR's tool chain. Your mileage may vary.

Reason's to purchase this book, in my opinion, are to understand some of the background of the ARM architecture (not a complete review, but enough to understand where the Coretex-M3 fits in to the rest of the ARM series and the odd nomenclature of the ARM series) as well as an overview of how the architecture is put together. Then, a specific vendor's implementation of the ARMv7 can be pursued with a better understanding of what the vendor has implemented and how to use the implementation.



User review
The Definitive Guide to the ARM Cortex-M3
Great introduction to the M3 architecture. Vital if you are just getting started with ARM MCU's and trying to wade through the Cortex-M3 Technical Reference Manual.

User review
Cortex M3
I just recieved this book. This is the book you need if you are going to be doing any sort of serious programming for the Arm Cortex M3 processor. I was reluctant to purchase it because of some of the bad reviews that it recieved. But it does cover a lot of the details of how the hardware functions and programming at the assembly level, which seems to be almost imposible to find anywhere else. I am very happy with this book (I am a long time,,.30+years micro controller programmer).

User review
The definitive guide to ARM Cortex-M3
A very good book for those who want to migrate from 8 bit micro controllers to the new generation ARM controllers. As prices of these controllers are now quite attractive every designer would like to explore the possibilities of using them in applications where 8 bit controllers were cost effective.

This book is a good starting point for designers. The contents are written in a perfect sequence. The designer would feel confident to start using the ARM Cortex-M3 for his application. The chapters on the development tool chains are also well written.



User review
Definitive and Helpful
I just have finished reading this book and I'd rather say I am glad to have done it, as it gave me a required overview and understanding of the Cortex CPU.

I'd say I got what I expected for and I am contented with that.

Now it's time for the real work,,.

Ran