Re: Learning to use PICS

From: Byron A Jeff (byron_at_cc.gatech.edu)
Date: 11/25/04 

Date: 24 Nov 2004 23:10:27 -0500

In article <364fd697.0411230747.559ea3c6@posting.google.com>,
David Harper <dave.harper@gmail.com> wrote:
>I'm interested in learning how to use PICS. I've done lots of
>advanced stuff with the Basic Stamps, but am starting to feel some
>speed, capacity, and temperature (low) limitations. I'm wondering if
>there are PICS out there that are more rugged, have more memory, and
>are considerably faster than BS modules. Not to mention, the prices
>I've seen are alot lower. :-)
>
>Thanks in advance for any suggestions, insight, or comments!
>Dave

Dave,

You're going to get 10,000 suggestions. But given your situation
I would suggest taking a look at the XC Structured Basic Compiler
(XCSB) by Sergio Masci. It's a highly optimized Basic along the lines
of the Stamp. So migration is easy. Since it is compiled, you should
get much better performance than the Stamp. Also you can load it into
the 16F chip of your choice. I would suggest the 16F877A if you have the
space.

While you stated in another post that you didn't want limited software
I would strongly suggest that you try before you buy. XCSB has a limited
Lite version that will let you test our some ideas. Then if everything
works you can purchase the standard or pro edition of the software.

If you're willing to spend some time learning another language, and
BTW no matter what you do you'll be learning another language to some
degree, consider JAL. This Open Source, Pascal like, compiled HLL
primarily targeted to the PIC has a large following and lots of
libraries for doing different things. Also it's completely free and
without restriction.

Finally you can always go back to the source and write PIC assembly.
As you step into the wider PIC world you'll find that lots of code
and examples are written in PIC assembly. So having at least a reading
knowledge of it can be helpful.

One last interesting place to look is Myke Predko's Basic87X interpreter.
Like the microcomputer BASICs of old (C64, TRS-80, Apple II) the interpreter
, program code, and parser are all embedded on chip:

http://www.myke.com/mbaspg1.htm

There are lots of resource links. Hope these help:

JAL and XCSB can be found on my PIC langages page:
http://www.finitesite.com/d3jsys/languages.html

Jal's Open Source page is here: http://jal.sf.net

Lots of resources on the PICLIST website: http://www.piclist.com

hope this helps,

BAJ

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