Post by thread:[PIC]: Entry point to start developing with PICs.

"... Whoever said "two minds is better than one" must have been billing for the time, not paying for it..." Olin Lathrop I can't agree with Olin fully. I think, lack of organization of the PICList doesn't mean that PIC-gurus can't organize themselves. As for me I even do not dream of being listed among them, since I'm entry-level PIC user without wide PIC experience (I dislike "newbie" or "beginner" words). Being new to free-market rules, I'd suggest interests of all sides: Gurus, Piclist and entry-level developers should be taken into account: 1. Anyone on the globe willing to start with PICs should have possibilities to start with blank PIC, few very cheap & common parts, simplest home-made PCB and Internet. As example - my scheme " Yet another burner on the block" posted on 26 May: two 74 chips, one ICL232, few transistors, resistors and capacitors - totally few bucks. Anyone can use it, if find it useful. Can handle all ICSP pins from RS-232. Can be programmatically switched from programming mode to normal serial mode. Correctly handles timings under Windows due to advanced loop-backs. Shows to an application PCB only 6 lines(+ current supply lines). Works rather slow (approx 50 locations/s), but may be used to download boot-loader, then the boot-loader will do the rest at 115K. With PIC18XXXX even with the slow programming speed one could feel comfortably, since 18X when programmed allows to jump to desired location without incrementing.(Little changes to code may be performed quickly). Ideally, one willing to start with PICs, could go even to Internet-café, attach to PC newly made PCB over this programmer, go to PICList site, click some button, then programmer should be tested and code should be downloaded to the app PCB's PIC. 2. I do not think this will hurt Gurus' sales. Anyway they might be involved to the project and get benefit of it. A lot of work here: boot loader, debugger, compiler, MPLAB compatibility if needed, etc. I'm not joking: I'd prefer, but do not insist on, all MPLAB things in VBA (MS Excel for example). We could put this code then into any VBA host: Corel Draw & PhotoPaint, Autocad etc if needed. All compilers, debuggers, programmers in VBA, open as Linux. I realize there are some issues, not to be publicly discussed, that is why this was not more then only my suggestions. Mike. James Newton wrote: "... But the depth and breadth of experience, ideas, and design direction offered by the PICList combined with the lack of organization is unlikly to produce anything as well tested and proven as Tony Nixon's learning tools or Myke's books or Wouters boot loader or JAL or Scott Dattalos work on porting SDCC for the PIC or Fred Maher's excellent Bike Computer tutorial or Roman Black (and others) excellent answers to question on this list..." -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics