On Fri, 6 Oct 2000, Andy Howard wrote:

> Does anyone know of any not-too-expensive computer-based training for the C
> language? Something that's embedded-oriented would be great, but almost
> anything would do to get me jump-started. It doesn't have to be CBT but that
> seems like a good way to learn programming and I know from previous threads
> that books on C for embedded applications are uncommon.

Right there with you, guy.  I was wxactly where you're at a few months ago
(curiously, for very similar reasons).  I looked all over the Web for
free tutorials (I'm a cheap SOB at heart) and found not a whole lot.
There were a few good things out there, though.  I use(d):

* CC5X free version
* A very nice tutorial in RTF format from Forrest at
http://www.fored.co.uk
* A few hours with "Teach Yourself C++ in 21 Days", I think it's a Sams
book. Yes, I know, C++ != C, but it helps and I already owned the book.
There is also "Teach Yourself C in xx Days" available.  They're quite good
in my opinion, even though they're not embedded-oriented.
* Many hours playing with my own programs.  A couple of hours looking at
other people's programs, though this produced more confusion than anything
else.  Microchip AN724 is a good read, especially since I think it has a
bearing on what you're trying to do.

I then switched to CCS C instead of CC5X after a couple of weeks of
research.  I have heard Hi-Tech C is excellent, but at $850 it was simply
way beyond my price range.  They do have a free version that does 16F84
only, but I needed to be able to handle larger programs and
bigger/different chips.

One thing I've noticed is that there is a lot of difference between PIC C
compilers.  You need to do a lot of research and look at the features of
each.  Once you commit to one, porting code from one to another will lie
somewhere between "Major pain in the I/O port" and impossible without a
complete rewrite.  Pick up a compiler you can live with for a long time.

I have heard several people refer to using Borland C or MS VC++.  My son
uses VC++ and I've seen Code Warrior, both of which have very nice looking
IDEs.  I have no clue how you'd get PIC object code out of one of them,
though.

Dale
---
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new
discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..."
                -- Isaac Asimov

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