PBP3 support for some 24F 16 bit devices?

[fowardbias]

Did or does PBP3 have limited support for certain 24F devices? I remember a list of 24F devices that I thought was attached to the PBP3 device list? (not there now)

[mark_s]

PBP never supported 16bit devices. The Melabs U2 programmer did support some pic24 and dspic.

Maybe you are thinking of Proton Basic which had a 16bit version?

[mpgmike]

16-bit support was PBP v2.xx or even v1.xx and for much older 16-bit parts. Anything worth using today has never been supported. When you look into the 16-bit architecture, it uses 16 Working Registers (as opposed to the 1 for 8-bit) and a bunch of other things very different from our familiar 8-bit PICs. Even Microchip MPLABX uses different Compilers for the 8- and 16-bit parts. I think I can speak with 99.99999999% certainty that PBP will NEVER support 16-bit PICs.

[amgen]

Ahhh, so you think there 'is' a chance for PBP to support 16 bit stuff ???!@#$

[mpgmike]

My suggestion is if you find the need for 16-bit PICs and dsPICs, take the plunge and learn how to use MPLABX and XC16. Microchip University has tutorials on these topics. It will involve a learning curve, but if I can do it, so can you (at least that's the saying). One nice feature MPLABX offers is Microchip Code Configurator, or MCC for short. You can activate SFRs, set BAUD rates, configure TRIS and other basic Registers, and even assign aliases to different pins. It makes transitioning from BASIC to C much easier.

[Ioannis]

The MCS IDE is one easy to use environment.

PBP has no need for peculiar header files or other strange includes.

So, one using PBP has a very easy IDE to develop a flashing LED in no time!

Compare that to the unbelievable MPLABX with many settings just to write one line of code...

Too complicated and scary. What all those files and settings do? A lot of time to discover...

Ioannis

[richard]

Too complicated and scary.

not at all , simple quick
blinky go to whoa in 4 minutes flat in 7 easy steps

[Ioannis]

Well, you got this ability to make it seem so soft and easy...!

Now I got to digest that C thing...

Thanks,

Ioannis

[mpgmike]

The ANSI C programming language has lots of cool tricks that let you do lots of ASM code function with simple commands. When I learned C, I used very basic transitions from BASIC to get the job done. A couple years later, I don't understand many of the C shortcuts, but am functional with "spelling things out". Fortunately, I worked the SFRs even when there were PBP short cuts, so transitioning to C was possible for me. Again, start with the Microchip University tutorials. The C programming 'bible' is, "C Programming Language, 2nd Edition" by Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie. All the stuff you need to know to get started is in there.

[Ioannis]

Thanks Mike.

Yeah, I have that book. Indeed it is a bible for C and read parts of it to understand snippets of C code. But never with a clear purpose to change side. Have to overcome the fears one day!

Ioannis

[mpgmike]

I found the best way to learn is to do. Microchip offers Development boards at widely differing price points. The cheapest way to get started is with one of their Curiosity Nano Development Boards, sporting the PIC of your choice. They include the Programmer/Debugger, so you don't need to buy a PICkit4_5 to play.

Next download the latest MPLABX (currently v6.15), XC8 Compiler (current version v2.45), and Microchip Code Configurator (MCC). Finally, go to Microchip University to learn some basic functionality.

The most important thing is to DO! As you go through MU training, have a Nano by your side connected to your computer. Actually do the exercises.

If you look through the MU offerings, there are courses on basic C language structure, commands, etc. There are examples using the different peripherals so you can see how to make UART or TIMER0 work in C. It will take time, but the resources abound to tackle even 32-bit processors. Again, learn by doing.

[Ioannis]

Sure doing is the basis for learning.

I see that XC series compilers are offered for download. Are they free of charge?

Ioannis

[richard]

its all free

[Ioannis]

Great. Thanks,

Ioannis