I'm looking for a USB and ethernet capable microcontroller to make something similar to the wiznet w5100 but be hackable! I found chips like the TI Stellaris, Atmel AT32UC3C (and others). However, its completely unclear to me how open source hardware/software-friendly these devices are.
So I'm hoping to draw upon our collective wisdom and experience to compile a list. Generally "openness" falls in these broad categories: free non-OSS, paid OSS, FOSS GPL, FOSS product-locked, and BSD. And I can think of several important aspects of each uC, for example: toolchain (compiler -- in particular does it support GCC), device-specific libraries, schematics. And finally, is the part available in small quantity?
For example, the Cypress PSOC family:
Toolchain: free non-OSS (Windows only)
Libraries: comprehensive from the mfg, FOSS product-locked, generally in proprietary assembly language. Almost nothing from the OSHW/FOSS community.
schematics: few
small quantity: yes, through Cypress and through distributors.
So Cypress is kind of an average choice for a OSHW device. You can build OSHW but you are doing it on top of a lot of non-OSHW stuff...
Any other experiences that you would like to share? I'm particularly interested in 32bit embedded SOC uCs to ensure that the device can handle TCP/IP stacks but not have too many external components.
I'm looking for a USB and ethernet capable microcontroller ... 32bit embedded SOC uCs ... not have too many external components.
32bit SoC with an embedded ethernet phy are pretty rare. TI is the only one I know of offhand. (an external phy is pretty tough, hobbyist wise. Looks to nearly require a 4-layer board to handle the high-speed interface...)
Not everything is immediately apparent. You mention PSoC as not having many open-source tools, but the PSoC core is either a 8051-like device or an ARMCM3, both of which have extensive open source tools and SW (not for the FPGA-like parts of the chip, of course.)
Wiznet is a pretty cheap and hackable option. Everything is pretty wide open and you can get it in a small package. You can access Wiznet through serial or parallel (I have thought of memory mapping one on a Z180 board and have my CP/M machine with ethernet...)
While I am an advocate of creating as much as possible, this is sort or like trying to get a group together to create an open source micro-controller.
Perhaps you need to analyze your desires better so you can come up with a set a parameters instead of totally "blue skying it". You might well find that what you need already exists. I think you would find that the ethernet hardware (like Wiznet) would work great, but you would really need to look at the CPU and memory side of things to make a more elaborate system function.
(ah. i see you got one of the old Cypress proprietary-core USB chips; not really a PSoC. Cypress was one of the earliest providers of USB-capable microcontrollers, and it shows. They do seem to have gotten the message; the newer PSoC chips have more standard cores (8051 or ARM, as I mentioned.) And the rather cool reconfigurable hardware.)