Wednesday 8 June 2016

EPE: PIC Microcontrollers and the PICkit 3: A beginner's guide – Part 2



This month, is part 2 of an ongoing series going back to basics for PIC Microcontrollers and the PICkit3.

Over the coming months, I'll be covering everything from the difference between microcontrollers and microprocessors to Microchip's MPLAB X IDE, the PIC Low Pin Count Demo Board and the incredibly useful PICkit3 programmer tool. I hope to build a strong foundation of understanding for microcontroller programming and project design.

This month I take a look at Microchip's MPLAB X IDE. This integrated development environment allows us an easy allow in one package that allows us to write and compile our code, manage our projects and libraries, as well as program and debug our PIC microcontrollers from a single visual platform. This is the tool for designing any PIC project.

If you've always to give PICs a try, but didn't know where to start, then I recommend checking out last months article in Everyday Practical Electronics.

You can buy the latest edition in PDF format online at http://www.epemag.com/buy-epe-online.html or you can buy it off from the shelf in your nearest newsagents.

To follow along with the articles, I recommend getting your hands on the following:
1. Purchase the PICkit 3 Low Pin Count Demo Board (http://tinyurl.com/h2jj2ek)
2. Purchase the PICkit 3 Programmer + USB Cable (http://tinyurl.com/zcpx3le)
3. Download PICkit 3 Starter Kit User’s Guide (http://tinyurl.com/jyqfeuk)
4. Download MPLAB X IDE (http://tinyurl.com/hmehqja)
5. Download XC8 Compiler (http://tinyurl.com/h5g9k5l)



I can't fit everything in the article, so whatever extra I have, might end up here on my blog page. So be sure to check back regularly for more cool projects.

Next month, I'll be getting my hands dirty with some lessons and some coding, based off the PICkit3 Starter Kit User Guide from Microchip's website. It's a decent PDF, but if you're new to PICs, then it can be a minefield.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

EPE: PIC Microcontrollers and the PICkit 3: A beginner's guide – Part 1



This month, I start an ongoing series going back to basics for PIC Microcontrollers and the PICkit3.

Over the coming months, I'll be covering everything from the difference between microcontrollers and microprocessors to Microchip's MPLAB X IDE, the PIC Low Pin Count Demo Board and the incredibly useful PICkit3 programmer tool. I hope to build a strong foundation of understanding for microcontroller programming and project design.

This month I look at the difference between microcontrollers and microprocessors, as well as Raspverry PI's, Arduino's and PICs.

If you've always to give PICs a try, but didn't know where to start, then this month is a great time to subscribe to Everyday Practical Electronics and read my monthly PIC n MIX articles.

You can buy it in PDF format online at http://www.epemag.com/buy-epe-online.html or you can buy it off from the shelf in your nearest newsagents.

To follow along with the articles, I recommend getting your hands on the following:
1. Purchase the PICkit 3 Low Pin Count Demo Board (http://tinyurl.com/h2jj2ek)
2. Purchase the PICkit 3 Programmer + USB Cable (http://tinyurl.com/zcpx3le)
3. Download PICkit 3 Starter Kit User’s Guide (http://tinyurl.com/jyqfeuk)
4. Download MPLAB X IDE (http://tinyurl.com/hmehqja)
5. Download XC8 Compiler (http://tinyurl.com/h5g9k5l)

I can't fit everything in the article, so whatever extra I have, might end up here on my blog page. So be sure to check back regularly for more cool projects.

Friday 8 January 2016

Software Management


It's the new year, make a resolution you can keep and get on top of Software Management.

Check out my latest PIC N Mix column in Everday Practical Electronics where I talk about everything in Software Management from Compilers to IDE's, Repositories, Version Control and Bug Tracking.

You can buy it in PDF format online at http://www.epemag.com/buy-epe-online.html or you can buy it off from the shelf in your nearest newsagents.

Unfortunately not all of it makes it to the article, so check out the following links for more info:

1) Best Bug Tracking Software of 2015 - Capterra
2) List of Repositories - Wikipedia
3) Top 7 Version Control Systems - Smashing Magazine
4) List of Version Control Software - Wikipedia