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Programming a PIC microcontroller — Parallax Forums

Programming a PIC microcontroller

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-07-19 19:14 in General Discussion
Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
PIC16F84?

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-16 16:33
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "lindsey_chew" <lchew@l...> wrote:
    > Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    > Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    > PIC16F84?

    NO, plain an simple.

    The methods of writing the program to the hardware are two totally
    incompatable methods.

    Dave
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-16 17:15
    No.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office

    Original Message
    From: lindsey_chew [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=x2fJxXcd2dmEHcNej2xJtMkxg1ByQ7yJDykKyN-yJH6HHjZqZ1whui3dpSGY6L_wL3oUGi0uLZac]lchew@l...[/url
    Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 7:28 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Programming a PIC microcontroller


    Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    PIC16F84?
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-17 01:33
    Gee, guys, we can give a more full answer
    than that.

    You see, the way the Stamp platforms work is to have
    an 'interpreter' program coded into a non-programmable
    PIC chip. This 'interpreter' also includes a 'loader'
    program -- which the IDE uses to load a 'tokenized'
    version of your program into an on-module EEPROM.

    Then, when you 'run' your program, the tokenized
    version is read from EEPROM. The tokens cause
    PBasic run-time routines to be executed on the
    PIC.

    In addition, the 'module' has an on-module
    clock resonator, a on-module power regulator,
    and on-module RS-232 receiver/driver circuit
    (doing what a MAX232 does). All these circuits
    are debugged, and the module will run with
    voltage from 6 volts to 12 volts DC.

    So you see, a Stamp gives you much more capability
    than a plain 'PIC' chip would. It takes much
    less hardware to program it, also. This should
    also answer the question why you can't use the
    Stamp IDE to program a 'plain' 16F84 -- there is
    no 'loader' in the 16F84 to start, and you don't
    have the code to the interpreter, which is partly
    what Parallax is selling you when you buy a Stamp.

    The Stamp IDE really-really expects to have a
    Stamp on the other end of the cable -- not a plain
    PIC.


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    wrote:
    > No.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: lindsey_chew [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:lchew@l...]
    > Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 7:28 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Programming a PIC microcontroller
    >
    >
    > Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    > Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    > PIC16F84?
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-17 03:46
    At 06:27 AM 7/16/2004, lindsey_chew wrote:
    >Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    >Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    >PIC16F84?

    That's a loaded question!

    On one level - yes you could. That is: you could add the tiny amount of
    extra hardware needed to switch Vpp & Vdd and write a PBasic program to
    read a hex file from your PC and burn that code into a PIC. In other
    words, you could use a Stamp as the brains behind a PIC programmer.

    However, I suspect that you are asking if you can use the Basic Stamp
    development system to create code ready to be burned into a PIC. The two
    possible answers are: NO and maybe.

    No - the Basic Stamp development system does not generate code directly
    compatible with a PIC.

    Maybe - because that source code can MOST LIKELY be used by one of the
    several PIC Basic compilers available. Those compilers do generate code
    that can be burned into a PIC.

    Hope this helps.

    dwayne

    --
    Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...>
    Trinity Electronics Systems Ltd Edmonton, AB, CANADA
    (780) 489-3199 voice (780) 487-6397 fax

    Celebrating 20 years of Engineering Innovation (1984 - 2004)
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-17 04:17
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Dwayne Reid <dwayner@p...> wrote:
    > At 06:27 AM 7/16/2004, lindsey_chew wrote:
    > >Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    > >Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    > >PIC16F84?
    >
    > That's a loaded question!
    >
    > On one level - yes you could. That is: you could add the tiny
    amount of
    > extra hardware needed to switch Vpp & Vdd and write a PBasic
    program to
    > read a hex file from your PC and burn that code into a PIC. In
    other
    > words, you could use a Stamp as the brains behind a PIC programmer.
    >
    > However, I suspect that you are asking if you can use the Basic
    Stamp
    > development system to create code ready to be burned into a PIC.
    The two
    > possible answers are: NO and maybe.
    >
    > No - the Basic Stamp development system does not generate code
    directly
    > compatible with a PIC.
    >
    > Maybe - because that source code can MOST LIKELY be used by one of
    the
    > several PIC Basic compilers available. Those compilers do generate
    code
    > that can be burned into a PIC.
    >
    > Hope this helps.
    >
    > dwayne

    um... it might need a little tweeaking to get it to run properly, so
    you probably would need one of the PIC basic compliers that are
    available. PicBasicPro goes for around $250.00 and if you are in the
    States, the exchange rate for Pronton+ is 1.87. Proton+ is going for
    150 Pound so, times 1.87 makes that $280.00 USD.

    So, you are correct that you can port PBasic to a PIC, but that
    requires something of a full wallet.

    Many of us have done the math to find the break even point and the
    OEM version of the Stamp raises the bar even higher.

    But, if you are hoping that PBasic can be used instead of one of
    those compliers... alas, your hopes are dashed on the rocks.

    Dave
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-07-19 19:14
    For this kind of dev. envronment, which is completely different, you need
    a 16f84 compiler & some other stuff. Check out http://www.melabs.com.

    On Fri, 16 Jul 2004, lindsey_chew wrote:

    > Is it possible to use the Basic Stamp Editor/Development System
    > Version 2.1 Beta 1, to program a PIC microcontroller such as the
    > PIC16F84?
    >
    >
    >
    >
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    Sean T. Lamont, Director Of Engineering
    Innovative Communications Technologies, Inc. http://www.ict.net
    email: lamont@a... / sean@i...
    "Do not fear mistakes, There Are None" - Miles Davis
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