Introduction
The Rabbit core is a small PCB, about 2" by 1", that incorporates a processor, flash memory, RAM, serial and parallel interfaces, a real time clock and perhaps most important of all, a full ethernet interface. To create an ethernet enabled controller, all that is required is a regulated power supply and an optional backup battery so that it can keep time. The cores themselves are inexpensive, at around £40-£50 depending on supplier and volume.
Toolchain
xAP for Rabbit uses the Z-World C-compiler. This is supplied with the Rabbit Evaluation Board (see picture to the right), which is available from either the US or UK distributor; it is quite good value for money given that it includes the C compiler, the evaluation board and a Rabbit core. The Rabbit processor itself uses an instruction set similar to the 8-bit Z80, so anyone with Sinclair assembler programming experience should feel right at home.
The xAP library has not currently been documented (this is work in progress), but the example source code is well commented. I've been told that later versions of the compiler have changed the interface to the network layer slightly, so the code supplied here may need some modification.
Given it's cost and capabilities, a typical application of the Rabbit is as a high level controller, acting as a bridge between a TCP/IP network and one or more serial xAP devices (PIC powered devices for example).
Miscellaneous Rabbit Notes
Download
Rabbit Development Tools
Rabbit xAP Sample Code Sample code illustrating xAP control with the Rabbit
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