Hardware Programming

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DevSign

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Hi all,

Can anyone here perhaps point me to a good starter to teach me about hardware programming? Like building an auto switch for low level water and that'll do something, that's just an example.

Thanks.:whistle:
 
If you don't want to work at to low of a level like soldering your own PCB's and learning C then you can have a look at this link..

http://www.phidgets.com/

They have a bunch of ready build or easy to assemble sensors and boards.. Then you can use there SDK to work in some of the higher level languages like .Net.. But I think they support a lot of different languages... I have my eye on one of there USB relay boards.. looks like you could have a lot of fun with them.. :)
 
PIC Microchips comes to mind. Or you could get yourself a raspberry Pi, think that would work out cheaper than the PICkit.

Edit: 1,000th post :D
 
I like PIC, you can make really small and cheap stuff with it. But for a hobbiest starting out, Arduino or Raspberry pi. The PIC will require assembler whereas the others can be high level languages.
 
biometrics said:
I like PIC, you can make really small and cheap stuff with it. But for a hobbiest starting out, Arduino or Raspberry pi. The PIC will require assembler whereas the others can be high level languages.
Click to expand...

The PIC can also be programmed in C. As easy as the Arduino.

But I agree, to start off Arduino is best. You don't want to hassle with hardware issues.
 
You can use C on a pic as well. All depends on the compiler. PicKit's software works fine with both
 
xera said:
PIC Microchips comes to mind. Or you could get yourself a raspberry Pi, think that would work out cheaper than the PICkit.

Edit: 1,000th post :D
Click to expand...

hey, one of my mates have Raspberry Pi, I'm just curious as to how that'll assist me in controlling hardware?
 
What is the most sufficient way of programming PIC microcontrollers, without needing to spend R300. I like to do things myself. Most online tutorials use bought chip boards, and that's not how I want it. I want to start with the basics, as in, build it myself and know why this works like that.
 
DevSign said:
hey, one of my mates have Raspberry Pi, I'm just curious as to how that'll assist me in controlling hardware?
Click to expand...

It wont really, as far as I know, the GPIO's dont have much function yet. Rather get an Arduino, or I have an STM32 Discovery board . Its slightly harder (using C to program), but its quite nice
 
DevSign said:
What is the most sufficient way of programming PIC microcontrollers, without needing to spend R300. I like to do things myself. Most online tutorials use bought chip boards, and that's not how I want it. I want to start with the basics, as in, build it myself and know why this works like that.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the cheapest option is by using a pickit package which costs around R400.
You unfortunately need a pre-programmed chip to program a chip unless you buy with a bootloader installed which will probably still take you above R300
 
CraZee said:
AFAIK the cheapest option is by using a pickit package which costs around R400.
You unfortunately need a pre-programmed chip to program a chip unless you buy with a bootloader installed which will probably still take you above R300
Click to expand...

Huh? I built a kit programmer board years ago and that was not the case. Most expensive part of the kit was the zif socket. Someone is still using it to this day.
 
Sysem said:
It wont really, as far as I know, the GPIO's dont have much function yet. Rather get an Arduino, or I have an STM32 Discovery board . Its slightly harder (using C to program), but its quite nice
Click to expand...

on the raspberry you can use the GPIO pins. They busy with a Gerdboard to make that easier. Can also plug some sort of camera straight into it.

Start with the Arduino, cheaper and more friendly to start with. And once you start building your own devices you can use only the chip + a few components.

http://za.rs-online.com/web/p/processor-microcontroller-development-kits/7154081/
http://za.rs-online.com/web/p/processor-microcontroller-development-kits/7589339/
 
spiderz said:
on the raspberry you can use the GPIO pins. They busy with a Gerdboard to make that easier. Can also plug some sort of camera straight into it.

Start with the Arduino, cheaper and more friendly to start with. And once you start building your own devices you can use only the chip + a few components.

http://za.rs-online.com/web/p/processor-microcontroller-development-kits/7154081/
http://za.rs-online.com/web/p/processor-microcontroller-development-kits/7589339/
Click to expand...

Ah thought the functionality was limited! How is the interfacing with the pins? Easier than general microcontrollers?
 
One nice thing with an Arduino, is that if you decide to move on to just using a standalone microcontroller, you can use the arduino to program other Atmel microcontrollers.

Mike sczsy of Hackaday did a nice short series on learning to program with the Atmel AVR series of microcontrollers.
 
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