> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On
Behalf
> Of M.L.
> Sent: 24 March 2010 23:23
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: [EE] Arduino
> 
> The "Arduino" has been around for a while now. For those who don't
> know, the Arduino is an Atmel microcontroller on a board with an FTDI
> USB->RS232 chip and preloaded bootloader. The system also includes
> (but is not limited to) host software with which people write very
> high-level code called sketches (AKA firmware to the engineers in the
> room.)

It's not particularly high level to be honest, it's basically
bastardised C++ with lots of library functions to access the AVR
peripherals and perform various common tasks.  The libraries are all
open source for those that want to learn more or improve/modify things.

Personally I have a couple of Arduino boards, but I don't use the
"Wiring" language since it's just a layer on top of the GCC compiler
which is a perfectly good tool anyway.  I use the Arduino as a cheap,
useful and expandable development platform for small projects.

I totally understand your arguments, though I'm not sure the Arduino is
any more to blame than, say, the Basic Stamp.  Both are often used by
people who just want to perform some simple processing task without
having to get too involved in the underlying operation of the device.

A guy I used to work with some years ago has started his own company and
is developing what is effectively a "Super Stamp"; an Arduino form
factor board with an ARM Cortex running a basic interpreter with
extremely high level functions, making e.g. TCP/IP and USB based
applications possible with very little code.  The same arguments apply
to this of course; is it dumbing down the hobby, or is it simply
providing a tool for people whose main goal is a finished project rather
than education?  If these tools were not available, I wonder how many of
these people would be breaking out the AVR/PIC datasheets and learning
assembler?

Regards

Mike

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