Advice on choosing first microcontroller board.

[rock94]

I'm going to learn microcontroller programming and I'm confused as to which controller/board to buy.I would like something that's good for beginners and easy to learn without sacrificing on functionality.I've worked a lot with analog electronics before and but this is the first time I'm going to work with this.There are many boards available and I really do not know the pros or cons of any of them.I've been looking at the Arduino boards and there are a few options among them as well(duemilanove,leonardo,R3). Also there are the AVR ones.Are there any other good ones too? So any help here would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tpetar]

Check MikroElektronika development boards products. Boards are big and with menu options and features, all supported with their compilers. Also boards have builtin programmer with debugger. Every dev board can be expanded with additional capabilities over external boards add-on boards such as click boards or any others.

Check :
https://www.mikroe.com/pic/development-boards/
https://www.mikroe.com/avr/development-boards/

Also I will suggest EasyPIC7 and EasyAVR7 for beginners.


Best regards,
Peter

 

[josiphal]

In the case that I am starting right now, will go with ARM for sure. For example, TI Tiva LaunchPad (https://www.ti.com/tool/ek-tm4c123gxl) is $12.99 (in price is included fedex shipping), but there are also other brands with same or better offer regarding ARM dev board.

PIC/Atmel or any other uC that is not able to execute most of the register instructions in one cycle, never was option for me.

 

[tpetar]

Sometimes, or should I say very often people have strong PC which is used only for Solitaire, the same thing often is in uC world. All depends what is needed, and solution should be optimal.

For ARM check this:
https://www.mikroe.com/arm/development-boards/

Dont look only on price, look what you get, and what you can make or develop on this system.

I'm pretty sure there is development board for $5 but what we can do with this, what board offer ?


For Arduino boards check this:
https://arduino.cc/en/Main/Products


Best regards,
Peter

;-)

 

[yura717]

I think better to start with PIC than ARM architecture

 

[rock94]

What about the Arduino uno R3 with an ATMega328? I've read that Arduino's are good/simpler for newbie's.So learn with an Arduino and move on to something else if required?

 

[tpetar]

Personally I dont like Arduino, its world of its own. I like to have more opportunities to different situations and challenges. Of course Arduino offer lots of features and possibilities. I dont like to see Arduino board in some final device, its like that you buy cornflakes box only because toys from inside.

For me its better to have comfort in development with big development system board, and not with small boards, which cannot be called system. When developing is ended and project works, then make PCB, solder parts, assemble all parts and we have finished device.

With development system board you have most of used peripherals and parts on board and you need just to start with development works. Plus you have built-in programmer with debugger (check manufacturer products for details).

On other side with small cheap development boards, you always need something to connect 7-seg display segments, LCD, GLCD, TFT, RS232 interface, USB interface, buttons, leds, power supply, potentiometers, jumpers, DIP switches, .... and programmers is needed to have separatelly.



Small dev board is like device in kit and you get one part, and you need make or get other parts to complete system.

Big development system boards is like ready car with keys in hand.


Of course this is my personal opinion, maybe others have different opinion.

 

[rock94]

Personally I dont like Arduino, its world of its own. I like to have more opportunities to different situations and challenges. Of course Arduino offer lots of features and possibilities. I dont like to see Arduino board in some final device, its like that you buy cornflakes box only because toys from inside.

For me its better to have comfort in development with big development system board, and not with small boards, which cannot be called system. When developing is ended and project works, then make PCB, solder parts, assemble all parts and we have finished device.

With development system board you have most of used peripherals and parts on board and you need just to start with development works. On other side with small cheap development boards, you always need something to connect LCD, GLCD, RS232 interface, USB interface, buttons, leds,....

But the same thing can be done with an arduino too isn't it?You program/test it using the development board and then use the microcontroller in the application circuit.Isn't that how it works?Correct me if I'm wrong because I feel it would be limiting if the development board was required for the final application circuit.

 

[tpetar]

But the same thing can be done with an arduino too isn't it?You program/test it using the development board and then use the microcontroller in the application circuit.Isn't that how it works?Correct me if I'm wrong because I feel it would be limiting if the development board was required for the final application circuit.

Yes, when you finish developing then make final circuit and PCB, program code inside uC and thats it, and Arduino waiting next project. But often people use Arduino in final device, what I saw, to avoid making PCB,....

 

[rock94]

PCB isn't a problem at all here..I etch my own PCBs for many of my circuits...and for others I use a perfboard.So something similar can be done here too right?So in such a case I can go ahead with the arduino?

 

[tpetar]

Of course why not, in any case you can try it. Better to start with something than with nothing.

 

[rock94]

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks! Things in favour of the arduino was the easy availability locally and the price too.Anyway will be buying the uno r3 next week.Any recommended add-ons?(lcd etc?).Also its available in 2 variants one with the ATMega8 and the other with the ATMega328.The board's the same though.

 

[tpetar]

I wish You luck and success in developing and finishing projects.

Here is several links useful for your new development envirnoment :

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage
http://playground.arduino.cc/projects/arduinoUsers
http://www.instructables.com/id/20-Unbelievable-Arduino-Projects/
**broken link removed**
http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Projects/



Best regards,
Peter

;-)

 

[rock94]

Thanks a lot!

Regards,
Rocky :-D

 

[tpetar]

And I almost forget, here on EDABoard you can find many people which want and can help, and maybe some problems are already solved in some threads.


Best regards,
Peter

;-)

 

[yura717]

I would like to say exist 2 good books to learn C programming...
C++ Primer Plus by Mitchell Waite Signature Series - Stephen Prata.
and
Griffiths D., Griffiths D. Head First C