I have access to some 486 (and 386) single board computers that I'd like to utilize for some one-off projects. While I've programmed PCs under DOS (Windows too, but I have no need for Windows on these boards), I've never programmed an x86 SBC. I have, BTW, programmed plenty of embedded stuff using other processors. Can any of you folks who have done so tell me something about my options in the 32-bit x86 embedded world?
I gather that I could stick a DOS on these and program them using a
16-bit compiler. I do have MSVC++ 1.52c which includes a 16-bit compiler. What other options would I have for 16-bit programming?What about 32-bit code (the idea of having to think about nears and fars again gives me pause)? What's involved in writing 32-bit code for a 486 SBC?
Oh, and I'll probably want to use an RTOS for one or two of these projects. Would I be able to e.g. launch an RTOS from DOS? What about running an RTOS in 32-bit mode? I'd incline to something free like uC/OS-II or FreeRTOS or eCos (none of which I've used before, but I've used a number of others that the bosses paid for). Any thoughts there?
To summarize, I want to program some 486 SBCs, and I have some bias towards 32-bit code but it's not a must, and I want to do it cheaply and easily, and will probably want an RTOS at some point. Not too much to ask, eh? :-)