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Re: BASIC stamp BS1
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Originally Posted by sciguy125
First I have to mention that writing code for PICs (in assembly) isn't for everyone. It's a little daunting at first, but after awhile, it isn't that hard. You have to realize that it's very different from C, Java, or whatever other high level languages you use. You have to personally keep track of the memory that you use, it's hard to work with numbers larger than 8 bits, there's not much meaningful output while trying to debug... But, if you want to learn how computers work, it's a great way. PICs are also a cheap/small processor to use in whatever electronic project you have going. Keep all that in mind if you decide to take this on.
My favorite source for electronics is Mouser. You can get some PICs and parts to build yourself a programmer. The 16F84 seems to be the standard "newbie" chip. You can get a schematic for the JDM programmer here. IC-Prog is a nice loader. Unless you intend on buying a compiler, you'd have to write all your code in assembly. There's lots of tutorials online. The datasheets also make a nice reference manual. I think MPLAB will work to assemble the code, but I don't use it so I'm not 100% sure.
After you have some code, you assemble it and it spits out a hex file to be loaded onto your PIC. You put the PIC in the programmer, connect it to your computer and use your loader to write to the PIC. After that, it's ready to go.
If you decide to get some PICs, don't forget to buy some crystals and a voltage regulator. I made that mistake and had to place a second order. |
PICs are nice, but I perfer AVRs, they can be programmed in C for free, or assembler, and they're just as easy to use as PICs, I'm currently using an AVR to drive a parallel LCD. You can either shell out the big cash (about $89) for the STK500 starter kit, which is very nice but overkill, or go for about $20 and get an AVR and the components to program it off the parallel port in your computer.
Check out these links for more info on programming AVRs.
http://www.uq.net.au/~zzdkeena/AVR/
http://www.lancos.com/prog.html
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Matt Krass
If I suggest something to try and fix a problem, and you don't understand what I mean, please PM me!
I'm a FIRST relic of sorts, I remember when we used PBASIC and we got CH Flightsticks in the KoP. In my day we didn't have motorized carts, we pushed our robots uphill, both ways! (Houston 2003!)
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