On Tue, Aug 13, 2002 at 09:29:17AM +0100, Alan B. Pearce wrote:
> >The primary purposes are create a ready to use
> > development environment and to standardize the base so that everyone that
> > has one of these units can be assured of a base set of I/O devices when
> > developing or supporting a project.
>
> Actually I thought it was a little more altruistic than that :)

I think it started out more altruistic than that. But I hope the realization
sets in that we're going to have to collectively support this project.

>
> It seemed to start out from Kieran's difficulties getting a programmer
> working, and someone came up with the idea of having a kit we could
> recommend to beginners.

...with the addition that it would target the newer PIC families (Shawn) and
that it would also have a tutorial/documentation aspect to it (also Shawn).

> It was to be pre-built so that there would be no solder splashes, dry joints
> etc to stop the hardware working, and someone has the facilities to do this
> as a pay back for help they have had from the list.

That would be Sean Alcorn. Correct.

>
> It would have a fixed configuration so that everyone knew the function of
> each available pin on the micro, and what peripheral it is connected to.
>
> It would have a number of sexy peripheral items to experiment with, already
> provided so there is no difficulty with adding hardware to experiment, and
> the owner can therefore leap straight in and learn software techniques for
> driving the different items.

Well there are several issues under these two points that are under discussion.
There are currently 2 rational, complementary perspectives on the table.
What you have above is the basis of my proposal.

Geert wants the same but in a more modular format where the core controller
functions are in a separate module from the I/O: the PICbase. This PICbase
can then be used as the core element of projects, and can be coupled to
standardized I/O boards that contains the rest of what you describe above.

These two are both in the demonstration/evaluation board motif. The other
class on the table is in the extended programmer vein. I think that Jason
Harpers really cool depiction would be representative of that model.

>
> A CD of useful software, tutorials, and example programs would be provided.
>
> These factors would allow all the more experienced folk on this list to
> provide positive advice to assist in getting working code, without working
> in the dark about the physical details of the hardware and how it was built.

Alan, you need to be our spokesperson. Well said. Well said.

>
> Have I managed to sum up the goals ?

Couldn't have done it better myself. Seriously, I couldn't. Excellent job.

Just one to add:

The hardware would provide a facility so that some subset of the PIC family
could be programmed with it. Truth be told there's enough hardware there to
program everything: A mini CUMP as it were.

BAJ

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body