Re: cheapest microcontroller for a noob with high level programming language skills?

On 2006-06-17, snarkyFish <aaron.propst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

it seems like there's a continuum: cheap and hard to learn <==>
expensive and easy to learn
is that true?

pretty much, but you pay for computing power too.

most micros can be programmed in C often the compiler is free/cheap
but in assembler you can do more as c compilers bloat the size of
the binary, still if you have a small task and a small (cheap) micro,
C could work.

This question is starting to run long.. sorry.

don't be. questions that are too short are frustrating to the reader.

I'd like a basic
microcontroller, with good reference materials on the net that can get
me started. I'd like to just breadboard simple experiments and
projects at 5v.

Any advice?

AVR (atmel.com) or PIC (microchip.com)

parts are available from the usual sources
(I see you're in USA so digikey.com, mouser.com).

if you want to learn assembler go with the AVR
its assembler is easier to learn

for a first project just wire the chip up to some LEDs and make it light
them some pattern, then make the pattern move.

if you're wanting to avoid the electronics part there are development boards
out there but they cost. However when it doesn't work you can be pretty sure
it's your software, not your hardware giving you the problem.


Bye.
Jasen
.

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