The Small Device C Compiler for 8-bit firmware development (froscon2025)

The Small Device C Compiler (SDCC) is a free C compiler targeting 8-bit architectures, including MCS-51, STM8, Padauk, Rabbit, S08. It supports standard C up to current ISO C23. We discuss the current state of SDCC, its use in writing firmware, and plans for the near future. Many devices include small 8-bit processors using architectures not or not well supported by well-known free compilers, such as GCC and clang. E.g. MCS-51 (8051, 8052) based microcontrollers in the Realtek WiFi chipsets. SDCC is the free compiler targeting these architectures. We discuss recent developments in SDCC, current challenges, and the plans for the near future, in particular wrt. improving hardware support (including plans for additional target architectures). Licensed to the public under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 about this event: https://programm.froscon.org/2025/events/3307.html