My Official Introduction, and What Role to PIC MCUs Play in Your Lives?

[rxforspeed]

I have realized that the potential for using not only PIC MCUs, but any other available MCUs in almost any application is really only limited by the software written and the peripheral components installed in the circuit. Microchip Technologie's website itself states that their products are used in everything from toothbrushes to toys, industrial and medical equipment, automotive applications, and so many more products that it would take thousands of pages to list every application...

Thanks for sharing your stories as to how you've been introduced to this line of MCUs. Dave, I know you've been a great help so far in the short time I've been a member of this forum-thanks for sharing part of your story. Jerson, I checked out your geocities.com profile and I sincerely hope you take this as a compliment-I'm really envious of the listed accomplishments you have posted there. I hope I can someday match (or at least come close to matching) just a portion of your work...

I've got so many projects that I'd like to develop with Microchip's PICs, but I'd also like to experiement with Atmel's, ARM's, Parallax's, and other MCU manufacturers products in the near future. I'm excited to be going back to school, even if I can't source a job in this area with my intended occupation-mainly for the fact that I should gather most (if not all or close to all) of the information I need to get my own small business up and going on the right track.

There's still so many other members of this forum that I'd like to know a bit more about-nothing personal, and especially nothing secretive or incriminating. I'd just like to get a few more ideas for future business opportunities and other related fields that I could possibly venture into after "mastering" PBP. After I get a better grip on this language, I'll study up on the information that Microchip distributes to assist in teaching their customers the 33-, 35-, and -50-something to 70-something assembly language instructions for their 12-bit instruction set, 14-bit instruction set, 16-bit instruction set, and 16-bit enhanced instruction set respectively...

I'm planning on learning "C" along it's most popular variations, Virtual Basic and the BASIC instruction set for both BS1 and BS2, and other computer programming languages so I can eventually start writing DOS-based software for desk-top PC's, notebooks, etc. I'll take it all one step at a time, and keep my memory refreshed by moving back and forth between projects in multiple languages. I'm hoping to get most of the essentials down before it's required of me in the courses I'll be taking over the next four years or so...

To all you others who have taken the time to read this and the previous posts in this thread, please-if you can-give me a bit of info on why and how you'd gotten into PICs, programming, and what job opportunities may be available for intermediate or experienced MCU programmers (or even beginning programmers with a solid desire to learn more about the complex MCUs, PLC's, etc.). Again, I don't need to know ANY specific details, especially if it'll give out any kind of secretive information or things you'd rather keep under wraps). I'm mostly just interested in learning more about this field in general-the different job opportunities and positions that I may be able to start out in before I finish school to further help me develp my skills as not only a programmer but also as a circuit designer and trouble-shooter for circuits and electronical products in general.

To you others who haven't had a chance to reply to this thread yet, please-if you can find the time-share a bit or your background with us. We don't need to know the name of your company or who you're working for, or even any current projects, although a small bit of info on those or future projects and certain requirements for those could help me and others decide which route to take when we decide to make a career out of this field, which is more than just a hobby to me...

I'd like to hear about some stumbling blocks and dead-ends you guys have encountered along the way, and if possible how you've managed to work around those to complete the task or project at hand.

Just to be clear, I sincerely believe that I've found my calling in life, and I would greatly appreciate any and all input as to why you others are here, what got you into this field, where it's brought you to date, and any recommendations on finding an apprenticeship or another means of learning as much as I possibly can on the job or how to get my foot in the door with an established corporation/company until I'm finally reaedy to set off on my own...

Thank you all for sharing the info you have, and any and all advice, suggestions, suggested reading, help, direction, criticism, and time devoted to assisting a fellwo enthusiast is and will not be taken in vain. I'm very proud and grateful to have become a member of this community, and I'm looking forward to all advice and info you can share with me-no matter how big or small...

Sincerely,
-Adam Collins

[mackrackit]

Enjoy
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5988

[Acetronics2]

Hi Adam

A bit off topic, but not really, in the End ...

Answering your question about Easypic5 on "another Forum" ... compatibility is 100% when using Microcode Studio as an IDE.

Using MPLAB allows compatibility too ... as you just have to transfer your Hex to the Easy5 onboard progammer ( one mouse click ! )

I've also appeciated your RX8 "Engine stories" ... I just can tell, Here, on this forum, you will meet VERY highly PbP and Pics Qualified users ...

so, listening to their advices will be ... the least to do.

Welcome here and have fun in theses columns.

Alain

PS: as Humour must be Keyword ...

you've forgotten to write that :

Sorry for the long-winded and hard-to-dicipher post, I tried to explain everything that you'll need to know but most likely just confused you even more. I hope you can get what I'm trying to say...

-Adam Collins

[rxforspeed]

Enjoy
http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5988

Once again, Dave to the rescue! I didn't even think about searching for this topic before posting it. After reading that topic, I feel like "part of the family" now, or at least I have a better idea of the backgrounds of those that have and are providing the help I'm seeking...

Hi Adam

A bit off topic, but not really, in the End ...

Answering your question about Easypic5 on "another Forum" ... compatibility is 100% when using Microcode Studio as an IDE.

Using MPLAB allows compatibility too ... as you just have to transfer your Hex to the Easy5 onboard progammer ( one mouse click ! )

I've also appeciated your RX8 "Engine stories" ... I just can tell, Here, on this forum, you will meet VERY highly PbP and Pics Qualified users ...

so, listening to their advices will be ... the least to do.

Welcome here and have fun in theses columns.

Alain

PS: as Humour must be Keyword ...

you've forgotten to write that :

Thanks Alain-I've since purchased the EasyPIC5 along with the 128x64 GLCD and touch screen, the 2x16 blue backlit LCD and DS1820, along with an additional 4x20 blue backlit LCD and additional touch screen connector. I will get microBasic in the near future, but I really need to familiarize myself with PBP a bit more to avoid confusion between the two at this time. I've found it VERY easy to use compiled PBP programs on the EasyPIC5, just in my case I still have to remember to change the oscillator setting to "HS" when I use it. I'm hoping to see an upgrade to PBP in the near future that allows the use of GLCD commands so I can take advantage of the extra touch screen connector I've purchased, but I'm sure I can use microBasic for that once that need arises...

As for the RX7club forum, I really should send a "thanks" to members like Aaron Cake and others for literally laying the foundation for my current interest in electronics. He, and others, had introduced me to the Megasquirt engine management system (the DIY EFI "computer"), helped me learn what I needed to about the rotary engines, and instilled a thriving thirst for knowledge about custom electronics, which I've slowly been quenching for last year or so...

I'll try to ease up on the long-winded posts and "cut to the chase" here. I'm bad for that, but I'll make sure to type the least amount possible while still including all the necessary information...

Thanks to all for the warm welcome; I won't act as a typical "noob", posting the same topic in multiple parts of the forum, asking for info that's clearly listed in either the datasheets or PBP manuals, etc. I do my best to do my homework and make sure the answer to my question doesn't lie right in front of me before I ask. In most cases, I probably have the answer in a book I own (or one checked out from my local library) and will attempt to find it there or by searching this and other forums before disturbing others with it...

All the help, cooperation, and direction is greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
-Adam Collins

[rmteo]

You can download the demo version of mikroBASIC for free. It has a very generous limit of 2K of compiled code - enough to do just about any beginner project. Plus you get the advantage of structured programming (true functions and procedures with parameter passing), GLCD, SD/MMC, RS-485, etc. Also, the PICFlash programmer (of your EasyPIC5) is fully integrated and you can also do hardware ICD (in-circuit debugging) - single-stepping, breakpoints, read register values and much more.

[rxforspeed]

You can download the demo version of mikroBASIC for free. It has a very generous limit of 2K of compiled code - enough to do just about any beginner project. Plus you get the advantage of structured programming (true functions and procedures with parameter passing), GLCD, SD/MMC, RS-485, etc. Also, the PICFlash programmer (of your EasyPIC5) is fully integrated and you can also do hardware ICD (in-circuit debugging) - single-stepping, breakpoints, read register values and much more.

I've noticed some of the features offered by microBasic that aren't incorporated in PBP, so I have downloaded the demo version but have only used it to compile the included sample programs. I'm going to add it to my toolbox eventually, but I'd like to get a better grip on PBP first. I've studied a few lessons on Assembly, but the two languages are really too different to confuse me. I figured that if I started trying to learn microBasic before I've mastered PBP then I would just confuse myself due to all the similarities and minor variations between it and PBP. If nothing else, I feel the cost of microBasic is worth it just for the GLCD purposes...

I've packed my brain with WAY too much info on everything I'm trying to learn here lately to start in on mB. PBP has done everything I've needed for the time being, but I still need to reference the manual and certain books when writing code for even simple projects. Once I get it down, I'll jump into mB.

Here's a useful document for comparing and converting code from mB to PBP or vice versa: http://www.mikroe.com/pdf/mikrobasic/migration_path.pdf

It's really just a general overview of the two languages, but it provides a little bit of info regarding the differences between the two...

I have since purchased the PICkit2 from Microchip, but I haven't played around with the ICD capabilities of it yet. I'm working on it, but there's still a LOT more learning I need to do before I'm ready to tackle microBasic and their ICD...

-Adam Collins

[Acetronics2]

Here's a useful document for comparing and converting code from mB to PBP or vice versa: http://www.mikroe.com/pdf/mikrobasic/migration_path.pdf


-Adam Collins

WARNING !!!

This document is probably VERY old , or the writer never used PBP ...

of course it is to prove that MKBasic is the best ..., but LOTS of arguments are totally FALSE ... and LOTS of infos are OUT of DATE !!!

So, ... this piece of paper only use is for ... toilets !!!


I'm not partial here, use both compilers, and know enough of both to prove what I've written ...

Alain