Getting started with PICs

[Joshua]

Hello.

I would like to get started with PICs, but I still have a few unanswered questions.

My thoughts right now are to use the PicKit 2 or 3 as a programmer, and probably a C compiler.

So far My questions are:

1) According to Dave's review of the PicKit 3, and many other places I have read, it is inferior to the PicKit 2. Have the problems been solved, or is the PicKit 2 still better tan the PicKit 3.

2) Is there any advantages to the PicKit 3? Such as range of supported PICs, etc...

3) What is a good basic C compiler.

4) Is all a C compiler does, is let me code in C, and then save to a hex file, so the PicKit software can program it.

5) What is just a basic PIC, that I can use to play around with and get into this with. I do not need a lot of I/O, or bells and whistles right now, just something that can be used to learn with.



Any help will be greatly appreciated.



Thanks,
PianoKid1994

[DJPhil]

1) According to Dave's review of the PicKit 3, and many other places I have read, it is inferior to the PicKit 2. Have the problems been solved, or is the PicKit 2 still better tan the PicKit 3.

There's a thread about this somewhere, I believe in the episodes section. It seems that most of the issues are ironed out, and some were changes to method that a newcomer wouldn't probably notice.

2) Is there any advantages to the PicKit 3? Such as range of supported PICs, etc...

As I understand it that's the primary (maybe only) benefit. The Pickit 2 will stop receiving updates, so newer chips will require the Pickit 3 unless there's some workaround.

3) What is a good basic C compiler.

If you're going to be working with Pics you should be just fine using the compilers that come with MPLab. Details here.

4) Is all a C compiler does, is let me code in C, and then save to a hex file, so the PicKit software can program it.

Essentially yes, this is what all the different language compilers do. Compilers differ mainly in what language you feed them (assembly, C, Basic) and how strong their optimization is (how small the end product is). Don't worry about optimization too much yet.

5) What is just a basic PIC, that I can use to play around with and get into this with. I do not need a lot of I/O, or bells and whistles right now, just something that can be used to learn with.

The best plan here seems to be to get a book or tutorial and use what they suggest. This guarantees compatibility with your tutorial and takes the worry of part selection out of the picture while you're starting.

See this topic (and others via search) for more info.

Hope that helps.

[bearman]

I just asked the same things a couple days ago.  Check out the thread I started.  Your last reply has a link to it.

Everyone provided good info to start with.

I got this from another thread here and I read a few lessons and it seems like this will be helpful for us PIC newbys.

   http://www.gooligum.com.au/index.html

Bearman

[Joshua]

Thanks everybody for your information!


Ok sounds like I'll go with the PicKit 3.

It looks like MPLAB is also the way to go. Possibly along with a third party compiler or Microchip's own compilers.

Thanks also everybody for the links and other information, it is very helpful.


Thanks,
PianoKid1994