I've always considered the definitive source to be http://www.allaboutcircuits.com -Shawn Byron A Jeff wrote: > On Sat, Jun 05, 2004 at 04:37:07PM -0500, Matthew Shoemaker wrote: > >>Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me suggestions as to were to >>start learning about pics? Any software to help, websites, anything? I >>have not be working with electronics much, but am hoping to get back >>into it. Because of this I also would like ideas of where to start in >>my journey back into the world of electronics. Thanks! > > > Tough question. The problem isn't the fact there is little information on the > subject, in fact it's exactly the opposite. There's way too much information > for the average novice to swallow. So instead of pointing out some specific > resources (many of which I'm sure you'll get in replies to your query) let > me throw out some suggestions from one perspective - mine ;-) > > 1. There will be more than enough time to try to learn everything. So don't > do that now. Instead focus on getting a handful of simple yet useful > projects going. > > 2. Don't spend an arm and a leg on development tools. All of the software > resources you need are freely downloadable, and depending on your > electronics comfort level, there are a bunch of simple methods for > programming PICs that you can use. My personal recommendation is to > at least consider using a bootloader, as then no "programmer" at all > is required. Most of my successful projects have been developed using > Wouter van Ooijen's WLoader bootloader (http://www.voti.nl/wloader) > for example. > > 3. The Microchip Reference Manuals and the Datasheets for your chip are > absolutely required. You may not have to print the manual (it's over > 600 pages) but you'll want to have it handy due to the complete explanations > and code examples for everything under the PIC sun. > > 4. Start with and use PIC assembler until you understand why you need to know > it, and then consider why you may want to ditch it for something else. > The key point here is that PIC assembly is the lingua franca language of > PIC development. You have to know it simply to have an intelligent > conversation about how something gets done. For example the above referenced > code examples are all in PIC assembly. > > 5. Follow the measure it thrice, cut it once rule. Simulators are most > excellent if ferreting out silly errors. So simulate what you need to do > before committing it to a circuit. > > 6. This is the tough one, and I'll probably get some flak over it: whenever > possible, use hardware resources to get things done. This is important to > know because a lot of PIC resources are directed towards chips that lack > hardware resources, specifically the 16F84. Limited timers, no hardware > USART/I2C/SPI, no PWM/capture, no ADC or comparitors among other things. > So a lot of tutorial material is geared towards software solutions to the > lack of hardware resources. I firmly believe that this is a mistake for > the hobby PIC user. Since there isn't an economy of scale issue (we need to > save 4 cents on the Bill of Materials to enjoy a quarter million savings > on the project yadda yadda...) use as many of the resources that are > available to help. It's one reason I'm so high on the 16F88. It has > absolutely everything a hobbyist would want in an 18 pin package including > nanowatt features and self programmability. But since it cost more than > the 16F648A or the 16F72 (in a 28 pin package) the professional BOM crowd > shuns it. But it's perfect for hobby use, just add power! > > 7. Some encouragement: do it because it's fun to do. Build something whimsical > or something useful to you. > > BAJ (http://www.finitesite.com/d3jsys) > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads