R. Gaonkar Microprocessor Architecture Programming And Applications With The 8085 Prentice Hall 2014
The “Applications” part of the title is not an afterthought. The 2014 edition includes detailed lab experiments that can be performed on an 8085 trainer kit (e.g., VMC-8501, ES-8085, or Micro8085). Typical projects include:
Each project includes a hardware schematic, a flowchart, assembly source code, and expected output waveforms. In the 2014 edition, Gaonkar adds debugging checklists: “If the LED doesn’t light, check the chip select logic first; then verify the output port address.”
Perhaps the most practical section of the text is Part III: Interfacing. This is where the rubber meets the road. Gaonkar explains how to connect the CPU to the outside world.
This section is crucial for students moving into Embedded Systems. It teaches that hardware is useless without the software driver to control it, and software is abstract without the hardware to run it. The “Applications” part of the title is not
Chapter 10-12: Interfacing Concepts – Gaonkar shines here. He explains:
Chapter 13: Interrupts – A deep dive into the 8085’s five interrupts (TRAP, RST 7.5, RST 6.5, RST 5.5, INTR). The 2014 edition includes modern equivalents like vectored interrupt controllers.
Chapter 14: Peripheral Interfacing – Practical examples with real chips: Each project includes a hardware schematic, a flowchart,
When the 2014 edition was released, the world was already using Intel Core i7 processors. However, the 8085 (introduced by Intel in 1977) remains the ideal teaching tool for several compelling reasons:
Gaonkar’s 2014 edition acknowledges that students will eventually move to ARM or x86, but it argues convincingly that understanding the 8085 first accelerates learning of any other architecture.
Before we discuss the book, a quick note on the processor. The Intel 8085 is an 8-bit microprocessor. It has a 16-bit address bus (64KB addressing capability), a multiplexed data/address bus, and a surprisingly elegant instruction set. Most modern embedded engineers start with Arduino (AVR) or ARM Cortex-M. However, without the 8085, you don’t truly understand: Perhaps the most practical section of the text
Gaonkar’s book leverages the 8085 as a teaching vehicle, not as a career destination.
The R. Gaonkar Microprocessor Architecture Programming and Applications with the 8085 Prentice Hall 2014 edition is still in print (as of 2025) through Pearson India and major online retailers. Here is how to identify the correct edition:
Used copies are abundant on Amazon, AbeBooks, and Flipkart. A new copy typically costs ₹550–₹700 in India ($25–$35 internationally). Many universities also provide PDF access through institutional library subscriptions, but the physical book is preferred for lab use.
