PIC programming with C start up help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 02:24:55 am
content: I haven't programmed in C since the eighties. I would like to try a little PIC programming but I'm at a loss as to which editor/compiler I could use that is simple .I understand that some standardization has occurred over the years with C but imagine that most of the dialog should still be valid .So it shouldn't be to hard to work with it again. I tried Turbo C but I don't like that format.I would like to be able to look up references as I need them to help relearn.So some sort of windowed version is preferable. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 02:37:29 am
content: I would just go with the obvious:Microchip'sMPLAB X IDEwith theirXC8 8-bit compiierLater you can add the XC16 and XC32 compiliers.

author: Sudo_apt-get_install_yum
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 07:25:13 am
content: I’m not expert but I I’ve worked a bit with MCU'sI’ve never really used PIC's that much; I’ve mostly stuck with the AVR family so I guess that I’m a real AVR fanboyIf you’re not forced to use a PIC then id suggest hopping over to the Arduino witch is very beginner friendly, since you have programmed in C before it should take long to get used to the way a MCU works. After that you’re free to use whatever family of MCU’s your heart desires!ID suggest not to stay on the Arduino platform for too long since it makes you "lazy" and when it comes time to optimize something it will be hell, at least in my experience. But the Arduino environment is good for fast development and easy to get started with if you haven’t worked with MCU's before!But if you’re stuck on PIC I’d suggest using Microshits MPLab!

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 10:29:55 am
content: If you go with PIC you have MPLABX IDE which is a free download along with the necessary C compilers to target the PIC family you choose or you could go for the MPLAB XPress cloud option and a order a nice, free Xpress demo board (it'll take a while to arrive though).Arduino is "C-Like", the IDE has a real lack of debug/simulation facilities, if you go down the Atmel route then it's better to go with AVRStudio I believe.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2018, 11:02:05 am
content: Quote from: Jwillis on June 28, 2018, 02:24:55 amC hasn't changed much.It slightly depends on which PIC you are targeting? What are you trying to achieve?At the cheap and cheerful end there is...https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122904230806which works well with older versions of MPLAB but needs a PicKit or ICD.but my personal favourite are the curiosity boardshttp://www.microchip.com/promo/curiosity-development-boardse,g,http://www.microchip.com/Developmenttools/ProductDetails/DM240004for PIC24 or others for PIC32MZ etc.The curiosity boards have PicKit on Board so you don't need an extra programmer and come with examples for MPLABX.As you go up the grades of devices there is more to learn in terms of libraries etc and TBH the C language isn't really much of the learning curveIn the past I have used CCS but MPLAB works fine and has a free tier compiler.PSI thought I would never say this but.... have you considered other vendors? STM? TI?