> 1. From what I can tell, to use c as the programming language, I have
> to be using a PIC18 or higher, and with PIC16 or lower, I must use
> assembly.  Yea or nay?

nay. you can use C18 with 18F chips, but a recent thread was not exactly=20
jubilant about the size of the code produced by that compiler, but it=20
does seem to work OK.

There are lots of languages to choose from, for all PICs, for instance=20
Assembler, C, Pacsal, Jal, Basic.

 > do you
> typically use some prefab board?

For a prototype a prefab borad, or maybe a solderless breadboard.

 > but I don't yet grasp the difficulty
> of driving a Hitachi HD44780 16 char x 2 line display in assembly.)

Then get a library. Or choose a HLL that already has a library. maybe=20
take a look at Jal!

> 3. I'm interested in using piklab and gpasm/gplink under Linux, but am
> willing to use the MPLAB IDE if I have to.  My limitations are that I
> just don't know Windows like I know Linux.  Any recommendations or
> experiences would be welcome.

Jal is available for Linux, or else you could compile it yourself. It is=20
available as C source.

> 4. Book recommendations are welcome.  I also expect that online
> tutorials and others' documented projects will be great teaching
> tools.

I prefer the datasheets over books.



--=20

Wouter van Ooijen

-- -------------------------------------------
Van Ooijen Technische Informatica: www.voti.nl
consultancy, development, PICmicro products
docent Hogeschool van Utrecht: www.voti.nl/hvu

--=20
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