I think I got in over my head with this one so far. I bought Myke's book
last fall "Programming and Customizing PICs" and got through about half of it
(totally confused, too) before realizing I needed a programmer. I regained a
bit of bravery THIS fall and bought the YAP programmer from Wirz Elec. I'm
the kind of person that would like to know exactly WHAT I'm trying to learn
before I just dive in to breadboarding this thing and making an LED flash. I
realized that I am going to have to learn some kind of code to program this
thing, and I don't know where to start. I have downloaded MPASM, but don't
know if that is what I write programs in...but then again, I don't know what
goes where and so on...

  Do I need any other books or like a college course in computer
programming?? I used to program BASIC a lot as a kid, and I understand
strings and variables and all, but this looks a lot more confusing.  I'm not
completely clueless about electronics as I have designed LOTS of stuff in the
analog audio realm (amplifiers, crossovers, EQ's) and I'm a repair tech for a
car stereo shop (which is a big reason why I chose the PIC, because there are
a lot of apps in car audio that could use something like this marvel). But
trying to make the connection between hardware, software and what I want it
to do is just a little more than frustrating....but I can't bring myself to
going back to BCD counters and 555 timers (gag).

  So if there's anyone out there that isn't going to tell me I need to buy a
$500 C++ assembler and has some advice (even if it's like "you're outta your
mind, you stupid kid" (I'm 23) ) I'm open to suggestion.

  TIA to all!

Aaron