Looking for software tools and PicBasic program for PICs

Getting Started wth Pics

I'm just getting started using and programming of PICs and would like to
know what are the Best Software tools to use. I already have MPlab IDE 5.2 and Picc lite both from Microchip.

I was also wondering what is the best windows based PicBasic program to
use.

I haven't even actually started using MPlab yet. Just been looking at other
options other then using ASM to program with.

Thanks

Re: Getting Started wth Pics

alienbeing said:

I'm just getting started using and programming of PICs and would like to
know what are the Best Software tools to use. I already have MPlab IDE 5.2 and Picc lite both from Microchip.

I was also wondering what is the best windows based PicBasic program to
use.

I haven't even actually started using MPlab yet. Just been looking at other
options other then using ASM to program with.

Thanks

Click to expand...

The best way to "getting Started with Pics" is to download latest version "Mplab" from Microchip www. But You must keep in mind that programming PICS microcontrollers (especially PIC16xxxx and PIC17xxx)
is very difficult (if you want to write program in assembler). I propose You to start with PIC16F84 or PIC16F877 chips - they have flash memory which can be easily reprogrammed when chip is assambled on your PCB (these chips have special serial programming interface). If you don't have any PIC programmer i can send You simple windows programmer which i designed by myself and a sheet of course. (via e-ma@il)

I'm in the same situation as you and my choice is a C compiler and MPLAB.
I like to program in C cause I have some skills and it won't be difficult to write code for pics.
I also use MPLAB (free, easy to use) but maybe it's not the flashiest thing.

I've heard some people talking about Proteus combined with c compiler's (IAR if possible) as the perfect combination. I haven't tested that. Maybe another person could tell you.

Hi all,

I learned programming PIC processors in assembler cause I don't feel very comfortable in programming them in Basic or C and to use all the time in line asembler code to get things running.

I have myself no experience with C, but like to learn. As I read from many replies of valuable users it has some benefits like portable code to other processors, reusable code and structured. I must say I don't really understand yet what they mean by reusable code and structured. I think I also can reuse my assmbler code for several projects if I write it structured(!?). For example I wrote a thight communication routine, tested it for days, and saved it in a seperate file with a short explanation on top of all vars/const to declare in main program. Now I can just include it in every program I write in assembler. I think this is reusable and structured.

I know basic starting from GWBasic, Qbasic and Visual Basic. I can make good running programs with it: very fast and works fine for me.
How ever to use it for PIC processors? No. I saw some listnings in basic code during my exploration to decide which compiler to use. For several functions they use in line assembler code which made me very unhappy. I thought if I have to learn 5 assembler instructions then I also can learn all 35 instructions and code all in assembler.

I agree it is bit more difficult for making decisions and calculations in assembler, but hee Italian is also difficult (ciao guys!). I have seen people showing very complex mathematical operations written in C and basic saying: well, do that for me in assembler.

Can say that I don't need them for my projects ( at least not until I get a full time job at NASA). so don't have to bother myself with that. Need simple comparision, small loops and time delays etc. to get my projects running. Assembler is certainly bit more difficult then C or basic, but is certainly worthfull to learn.

Hope my own experiences will help you a step further in your decisions.

picbasic pro in comination with asembler (not onli picbasic) are very powerfull and easy to learn but in this way is impossible to use a RTOS

Picbasic pro is defiatly the way to go.