Hi,
I'm a noob just getting started with PIC microcontrollers. After lots of research and googling I discovered the PIC18f2550. The fact that it comes in a DIP package with full-speed USB seems too good to be true, so I have some clarifying questions. Sorry if I sound confusing, english is not my first language.
1) Is the USB just like a serial port? Can I upload programs directly through the USB port? Can I interface it through a serial terminal and send it serial commands? How does it compare to the Atmega32u4?
2) I looked up some USB connection circuits and none of them have any passive components. Is it really that simple? The Atmega32u4 requires a resistor for both D+ and D-, so I just want to make sure. Do I have to set pull-up resistors through software?
3) I found out that I need a USB bootloader to actually use the uC's USB device. However, every website I visit has their own version of the bootloader or simply doesn't give me one. Where can I find a reliable USB bootloader to use in all my projects? I assume you just burn it through a Pickit 3, just like with an AVR-ISP programmer?
I know some of these questions might seem obvious, but as a complete beginner I just want to clear any misunderstandings before I buy a dev kit, such as this one:
https://www.mikroe.com/startusb-pic.
Thanks!