It’s here!
My Pickit 2 starter kit has arrived from Digi-key!!! Also, I got that book, Programming and Customizing the PICmicro Microcontrollers, from my library, and I forget who said that it was kind of dumb, but I agree with them. Well actually it’s me that’s dumb cause I don’t understand half of the terminology…
The info and comments on
The info and comments on this page may answer a few of your questions.
pic tutorials
I don’t know if you got the lpc board as I recommended but here are links to the turorials I recommended.
for the 12f508/9 http://www.gooligum.com.au/tut_baseline.html
for the 16f690 http://www.gooligum.com.au/tut_midrange.html
If you went for the older 16f84 here is a tutorial for that
http://www.mstracey.btinternet.co.uk/pictutorial/picmain.htm
If you have questions while learning other than this forum there is the piclist you can subscribe to
http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist/index.htm
I wouldn’t recommend asking questions on the microchip forums it isn’t too newb friendly and you’ll most likely be referred to some page of faqs or tutorials. Actually the top 2 links are a couple that are constantly recommended in the microchip forums.
That book you got from the library. It comes with a cdrom originally. Which I suspect you wouldn’t have received with the library copy?
But that wouldn’t make any difference anyway. The book is still a dud. Any information you need on programming pics is out there on the net. For free!
Excellent!
I think you and I are going to have words. The pickit and the PICmicro are for purists. I think you have just joined a cult.
if you have problems getting
if you have problems getting some things to work, just open a support ticket. they respond pretty fast and don’t chastise you for being a noob. or you could always ask around here. I have enough exp with asm and pics to help you thru most things. which eval board did you get the 16F887 of the 28 pin board? alo feel free to pm me if you can’t find n answer.
¡Muchos grasias para tu ofrecimiento!
I got this board:
Which has the 20pin 16F690 on it. I also ordered some 12F509s and some 12F629 as well, however they havent arrived yet.
Thanks again!
I’ve got yet another question…
Back in the day (last summer) when I was studying computers, I was learning X86 assembly (assembly for X86 class processors) and I learned a thing or two about memory, stacks, interrupts, pointers, bytes, clocks, ect. Well I’ve lost a lot of that knowledge, and I see here that it applies to microcontrollers.
Do you know of a tutorial that explains all of that stuff for microcontrollers?
-TC
No worries
The 12f509 and 12f629 will plug into the lpc board you have for programming. The io pins though, you will have to match to the header on the right to connect any leds etc for testing.
page 41 of the low pin count user guide shows you that ra0-ra5 (gp0-5 on the 8 pin pics) are available at the header
You can add a 5 pin header on a project board and program with the pickit directly to that. Saves swapping the chip in and out between boards. Again the schematic on page 41 helps you work out the wiring.That is called ICSP. Just one of many terms you’ll learn. “In circuit serial programming” . There are a couple of things you have to heed when programming this way. There is documentation available on ICSP from microchip.
Have fun. Just remember the learning curve is steep but the satisfaction in learning by persistence is worth it.
Tutorials
Just start working through the lpc lessons and gooligum tutorials and all your questions will be answered at the appropriate time.
That’s the thing I loved about the gooligum tutorials is just as a question come to mind when following the tute he seems to anticipate that and an answer follows.
You really shouldn’t worry about stacks and interrupts etc yet. As far as stacks are concerned just know the number of levels in the stack for your device and watch how many calls you nest inside eachother.
Everybody starts with the helloworld of microcontrollers which is flashing an led on an io pin. And work it up from there. Sometimes too much theory is a bad thing best jump in and get your feet wet by practice. Start the lpc lessons and use the gooligum site for cross reference. I always find it best to read multiple interpretations to see the explanation from different angles.
If you get stuck doing something then explain clearly what you are trying to do provide relevant code written by yourself and it makes it easier to be helped.
Of course I nearly forgot you need to follow the mplab tutes as well unless you have aleady used it and understand the interface.If you get stuck anywhere I am here to help
Your list
Nah. All that stuff will be different depending on the microcontroller architecture.
Instructables
Instructables just came out with a nice little guide for this subject - hope it helps 
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-choose-a-MicroController/