Hello,

I've been very happy with the BASIC compilier by Micro Engineering.
I'm fairly new to PICs myself.  The nice thing about it is that it
allows you to make calls to your ASM routines from within the basic
program.  This is refered to as 'Inline Assembly'.  It also makes
it nice to be able to open up the ASM file for the purpose of studying
how your BASIC code is converted and the proper ASM syntax for the PIC.
The PIC ASM code is a lot different than the 8051 ASM code.  Studying
the output(while you have your manual in hand) allows you to get a better
understanding of the code.  Unless you have some complicated programming
issues to deal with, or have a need for great speed, use the basic for
most of your code.  Then you can ease into the Assembly Language.

I have not run into any speed problems with the Micro Engineering
BASIC compilier, but as I say I'm fairly new the to PICs and have not
done a lot with them yet.

That's my three cents.  It was two cents... but that's inflation.

Brent Pollock
Customized Controller Solutions
ccs@ewol.com

Embedded Control. Digital and Analog Electronics and Communications.
Process Control, Windows interfaces to embedded products
(Visual Basic 4.0 Pro)...on and on...
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At 10:43 AM 12/12/96 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi everyone,  I am new to microcontrollers and PICs.   My question is does
>anyone have any strong recommendations regarding which programmer a newcomer
>should buy?   I have looked at The Digikey catalog and the JDR catalog and I
>am considering buying a programmer from one of these three companies;
>Parallax
>Microchip
>Micro Engineering
>
>Any info would be appreciated
>Thanks                                                       B P Davies
>