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which platform uses c programming — Parallax Forums

which platform uses c programming

Lab RatLab Rat Posts: 289
edited 2011-01-24 06:14 in General Discussion
i need to learn to program in c but i need a crash course guide which i know parallax offers for all of their platforms which micro controller series is the most similar to the pic series from microchip. or which series programs in c???

Comments

  • FranklinFranklin Posts: 4,747
    edited 2011-01-22 18:30
    There is a c compiler for the propeller or you can use a different chip like the Microchip pic or the Atmel AVRs
  • Lab RatLab Rat Posts: 289
    edited 2011-01-23 09:17
    well i have a pic16f877a chip and the stuff to program it and debug it but i dont know the language.
    but i know nothing about c so i feel like i wasted all the money i put out. i thought i was buying an education package but you know how the chineese and ebay work together lol.


    i also have the basic stamp homework board which i have used abused fried and replaced already. lol
    and last night i found a free program from microsoft that i am just starting wo work with called

    Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 R3
    and it is available for free directly from microsoft. the page that i am providing a link to is the home page for the proram. everything you need should be able to be found here.
    http://www.microsoft.com/robotics/

    it runs on visual basic so its like programming in P-Basic with pictures its really cool plus the debugger can call upon text to speech to give you verbal feedback without extra complications. its a really cool program. when i get home i will figure out how to get it working with my Homework Board
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-01-23 09:48
    There are C compilers you can buy for the PIC16 chips, but the architecture isn't really suitable for C. One of Microchip's boards with a PIC18 chip would be much better for learning the language. You can use the free version of Microchip's C18 compiler. If you want something much more powerful you could get a Microchip Microstick, which comes with a pair of 40MIPS 16-bit chips, and use the free C30 compiler.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2011-01-23 09:58
    Lab Rat
    i need to learn to program in c but i need a crash course guide...

    I hate to say this here but if your objective is to learn C and something about micro-controllers one of the best points of entry is the Arduino. It is very simple to get going, has a very simple to use compiler/IDE system and some very nice tutorial documentation including what you need to know about C. The Arduino actually uses C++ but they are making use of only a limited set of extra C++ functionality.

    I feel safe in saying this here as Parallax does not do C.

    If you just want to learn C I think the best way to start is by using it on your PC. It's much easier to become familiar with the language there and then use what you know on some micro-controller hardware of whichever variety. There must be free C compilers for Windows from MicroSoft or elsewhere. If you are using Linux it's a natural. You don't have to invest in any hardware to get started learning C.

    Yes there are C compilers for the Propeller but I suspect for a beginner they are not so simple to get started with.

    If you just want to get something done with a micro-controller with ease the Propeller is an excellent way to start. It does not naturally use C but it's Spin language is excellent for beginners.
    i found a free program from microsoft that i am just starting wo work with called Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio....

    OK now you have changed the subject. Robotics Studio is nothing to do with programming micro-controllers as far as I can tell. I'll never know as it won't run on my PC either.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2011-01-23 10:06
    "which micro controller series is the most similar to the pic series from microchip"?

    Actually none of them. The Stamps are programable only in Parallax Stamp Basic and, although the BS2 has a PIC internally, it's not accessible as such. The other Stamp models use an SX microprocessor which is similar to the small PICs, but that is also not accessible. The Propeller is very different from the PICs. It can be programmed in C using Catalina, a free 3rd party C compiler, or ImageCraft's C compiler, which is inexpensive, but not free. Normally the Propeller is programmed in Spin and the Propeller's assembly language.
  • HollyMinkowskiHollyMinkowski Posts: 1,398
    edited 2011-01-23 11:21
    I think the Prop is best programmed in Spin and PASM.

    If you wish to learn C I recommend the free and powerful WinAVR
    GCC compiler for the Atmel AVR line. The 1284p is my favorite
    AVR. It has a lot of flash and can hold an enormous C program. The
    tiny85 is very cheap and can still hold a respectable C file.

    http://winavr.sourceforge.net/

    http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=winavr+gcc+tutorial&cp=12&pf=p&sclient=psy&aq=0&aqi=&aql=&oq=winavr+gcc+t&pbx=1&fp=9809f9a75fc5a4aa
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-01-23 12:15
    Earthshine Electronics has a nice Arduino starter kit that is very similar in scope to the "What's a Microcontroller" kit. Scroll to the bottom of the linked page, and you can download the manual that goes with it. It's very nicely done.

    http://www.earthshineelectronics.com/10-arduino-duemilanove-compatible-starter-kit.html
  • AndreLAndreL Posts: 1,004
    edited 2011-01-24 00:01
    Or get the best of both worlds, a Chameleon AVR which is programmable in C, Arduino compatible and has a Prop media slave on it.

    http://www.xgamestation.com/view_product.php?id=51

    Andre'
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2011-01-24 06:14
    I agree with Heater that you should learn C on a PC instead of a microcontroller. I use the Watcom C compiler, which you can download for free.
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