C programmable microcontrollers

[John Gutmann]

I bought a BASIC stamp and it is good but eventuall i will need to upgrade to C because i plan on learning how to program in a sofistacate way for sofistaced system and was wondering if anyone knew of any good C programmable Micro Controllers

[mechanicalbrain]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

I bought a BASIC stamp and it is good but eventuall i will need to upgrade to C because i plan on learning how to program in a sofistacate way for sofistaced system and was wondering if anyone knew of any good C programmable Micro Controllers

Well if you want real good quality go www.gumstix.com but i don't think any of those will run C.

[BrianBSL]

Pretty much PIC18x is programable with the C compilier we use for FIRST. Lots of different boards out there, or just buy the microprocessor and add your own timing source and programer.

I'm pretty sure the gumstix's run linux and thus you can use gcc for them.

The MIT Handyboard runs Interactive C.

I think there's a GCC addon to program ATMEL microprocessors. Similar to the Microchip PIC's, just made by a different company. Buy a demo board or build one yourself.

Lots more out there as well, use Google for links to all of the above.

[sciguy125]

I'm a PIC person, myself. But if you want to program in C, you'll have to use the PIC18Fxxx series as Brian pointed out. mcc18 is only for those chips and, as far as I can tell, is the only free C compiler for PICs (there's a gcc port, but it's far from ready).

In my personal experience, I've noticed that PICs and Atmel are pretty much the industry standards. I've also noticed that hobbyists tend toward PICs. I've never used Atmel's so I can't really tell you why.

[John Gutmann]

i ordered some free samples of the 16F84A i think it was from microchip and all i have to do is make the NOPPP from the circuit i found

[BrianBSL]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

i ordered some free samples of the 16F84A i think it was from microchip and all i have to do is make the NOPPP from the circuit i found

You can't compile C code for the 16Fx series PIC's with the compilier we get in the kit, they can only be programed in assembly. There are other C compiliers by other companies, however.

[Matt Krass]

I'm working with Atmel series AVRs and yes they have a gcc port, called avr-gcc. It's bundled with WinAVR for windows or you can install it separately for linux, it works great and is completely free, even come with software to flash the chip.

I'm trying to get in to PICs and have two of them on order right now, but they are PIC16F84s and I don't think the C18 compiler will work, are there any alternatives? I don't have a lot (Read: any) money to spend on this really.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by sciguy125

mcc18 is only for those chips and, as far as I can tell, is the only free C compiler for PICs (there's a gcc port, but it's far from ready).

mcc18 is not free, and in fact costs $495. We should all be thankful that Microchip decided to donate it to teams.


As far as C programmable microcontrollers, have you looked at Rabbit Semiconductor? They make a z80 derivative. They have a promo right now where you can get a development kit for $99. http://www.rabbitsemiconductor.com/p...05_230.60/DOM/ I've found Rabbit's documentation to be better then most other embedded targets I've worked with.

I'd suggest picking up an electronics hobbyist magazine (ie Circuit Cellar) and browsing the advertisers.

[Sparks333]

MCC18 is, however, available for download at Microchip's site. According to the site, "The Student Edition has all the features of the full compiler and libraries. After 60 days, the optimizations related to procedural abstraction and to the extended instruction set of the newer PIC18XXXX devices will be disabled. Code compiled after the expiration date will function, but may occupy more memory space." The way I read that, after 60 days, everything will still work, but perhaps will a drop in optimization. Free and a little underoptimized vs. $500 and optimized? I'd call that a good tradeoff, but that's just me. I have 30 days left on my trial, so I'll get back to you on what it really does after the trial period is up.
By the by, I have used the Atmels, and I consider them to be a little more hardcore, because you have to build the board around them. The PICs (at least, the ones I have used) are pretty user-friendly about electrical requirements. I have had great results with both, so I won't slam either.

Sparks

[jdong]

I highly recommend the TI 2812 DSP, which does everything our robot controllers do, and more. It also has a much more robust C compiler (TI 'default code' uses pointers, structs, and arrays of pointers to functions inside structs. MCC18 barfs and causes memory corruption due to incorrect asm generation with even the simplest struct-array constructs)


Motorola chips are pretty cool too. They also have a decent C implementation.


If you've seen the Gumstix's Robostix, that's one heavy duty solution, though slightly more expensive hardware-wise than otherwise desired. If you're learning and not making mass-assembled products, however, the price tag is well worth it . In fact, we plan to use Gumstix in First 2006 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?p=402247)


---NOTE:

No, I'm NOT ripping on Microchip or their compiler. In fact, it's about the most inexpensive C chip, and for that they deserve a lot of respect. Also, I've used these chips in my other work before (where I had a full licensed MCC18 toolchain), and their tech support is very friendly and responsive at fixing problems I found with the compiler.

The only thing I'm saying, is that sometimes MCC18's C bugs and controller limitations are frustrating to a beginner programmer, so you're better off using a more robust solution to begin with.

[John Gutmann]

Originally Posted by jdong

I highly recommend the TI 2812 DSP, which does everything our robot controllers do, and more. It also has a much more robust C compiler (TI 'default code' uses pointers, structs, and arrays of pointers to functions inside structs. MCC18 barfs and causes memory corruption due to incorrect asm generation with even the simplest struct-array constructs)


Motorola chips are pretty cool too. They also have a decent C implementation.


If you've seen the Gumstix's Robostix, that's one heavy duty solution, though slightly more expensive hardware-wise than otherwise desired. If you're learning and not making mass-assembled products, however, the price tag is well worth it . In fact, we plan to use Gumstix in First 2006 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...d.php?p=402247)


---NOTE:

No, I'm NOT ripping on Microchip or their compiler. In fact, it's about the most inexpensive C chip, and for that they deserve a lot of respect. Also, I've used these chips in my other work before (where I had a full licensed MCC18 toolchain), and their tech support is very friendly and responsive at fixing problems I found with the compiler.

The only thing I'm saying, is that sometimes MCC18's C bugs and controller limitations are frustrating to a beginner programmer, so you're better off using a more robust solution to begin with.

can u give afull part # because io sercher for thast on ti.com and got like 5 results that wud work but i dont kno wwhat one in paticular ur talkiong about

[John Gutmann]

what kind of PICs are programmable easily with the compiler from FIRST or from any other free compiler? I am looking for DIP module.

[Sparks333]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

what kind of PICs are programmable easily with the compiler from FIRST or from any other free compiler? I am looking for DIP module.

I think the only kind of PIC you can program with FIRST's compiler is the one in the controller - a PIC18F8520 - but you can program any PIC18F with the C18 Compiler. Oh, and most PICs you can order as DIPs.

Sparks

[John Gutmann]

Originally Posted by Sparks333

I think the only kind of PIC you can program with FIRST's compiler is the one in the controller - a PIC18F8520 - but you can program any PIC18F with the C18 Compiler. Oh, and most PICs you can order as DIPs.

Sparks

where do i get the c18 compiler?

also any recomendations of what 18 series PIC i should use?

[BrianBSL]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

where do i get the c18 compiler?

also any recomendations of what 18 series PIC i should use?

You can grab the student edition from Microchip's website, otherwise you would have to buy it from them. I'm not sure if the FIRST one is limited - I've always programmed my PIC's in assembly except for FIRST stuff.

I'm pretty sure the 18F8520 is only avilable in surface mount form, but the 18F4620 is avilable in 40-pin DIP package, and includes twice the RAM as the 8520 as well (which seems to be a complaint about the RC).