>
> I am about to become a new lamb in this flock and purchase my first PIC. I
> am interested in finding some people that use Linux as their host system.
> I will be starting out with the 16C84 but may wish to expand later.

I'll take a stab at it.

Bottom line: I took the lazy way out and use the DOS Emulator under Linux
for development. But I do have some nifty Unix based tools too.

>
> I would like to find:
> . An RS232 programing board - I have found several including Jens Madsen
>   programmer. Does anyone have a Blank PCB for sale??
> . Programming sofware to program the above. I found GNUPIC site but did
>   not find RS232 driver.

Not a whole lot of clues here. Basically any PC based board will work but
the software is is the issue. At one point in time a long time ago I built
David Tait's 16C84 programmer for the parallel port and ported the software.
It worked but was flaky. I bought a PicStart 16B and started using Microchip's
DOS development system under DOSEMU. It works so well I never really took the
time to change back.

Honestly I'm partial to the parallel port solution because there are no
port dependancies required to make it work. Generally the RS-232 programming
solutions steal power from the port, which doesn't have to gurantee to
deliver 12V to the board.

My ideal solution would be to have a Linux driver for the Phoenix upgrade
to the PICstart. Second would be a reliable RS-232 board ideally with
it's own processor so high level commands could be sent to it. Thirdly
would be a RS-232 bit banger that's reliable (i.e. powered from its own
supply).

Any pointers appreciated.

> . An Assembler to compile the for the above. I found Timo Rossi's
>   picasm version 1.05. Will this do the job.

While the notice on my assembler says it isn't for the 16C84, it is. Biggest
problem is that it doesn't output Intel records. Not too hard to fix though.
Guranteed to work on Linux because that's where it was developed.

>
> Nice but not necessary (Yet).
> . A Simulator for Linux. I found nitpic by Dave Madden. Is this still in
>   active developement?

No clue.

>
> Personal success storys of working environments (In Unix) would be most
> usefull

Anyway drop me a line at byron@cc.gatech.edu and let's talk. Have a totally
Linux based system has been on my agenda list for a while, but I just haven't
gotten to it yet. Maybe we can make some progress together.

BAJ