Getting Started using Forth on PIC Controller

[Carl29]

I would like to use Forth to program a PIC Microcontroller as an learning exercise.  Could you suggest the hardware, software and doc that I would need to get started.  I have downloaded FF3.0 but don't know what to do with the .tgz file. I am working on a Windows XP Pro OS and in the (long ago) past  developed a successful Forth control system on an Apple II using MVP Forth. 

Carl

[Mikael Nordman]

Here is what I would do. I have not tried this procedure
but in principle it should work.

Download and install Microchip MPLAB Integrated development environment.
Download and install icprog.
Download and Install Teraterm.

Buy a development board, for example
the PIC-P28 board and programmer PIC-PG1 from
http://www.olimex.com/dev/

Then you have to buy a a PIC, for example PIC18F2520.

Download the flashforth30.tgz and unzip the archive
to a folder.

Make a project in MPLAB of the source code and compile FF.
You have to set the crystal frequency in the P18F2520.asm file.
As a result you get a .hex file.

Connect the PIC-P28 to the PC serial port.
Connect a powersupply to the PIC-P28.

Use icprog to download the .hex file to the pic.

Now you are ready to run FF.

Connect a serial cable between the PC and the PIC board.
Set teraterm to your serial port with 38400,N, 1 XON/XOFF settings.

Power in the PIC board and you should see the FF prompt.

-- Mikael

[Pete Zawasky]

Hi Carl,
Just wanted to throw in another 2 cents worth..... I have been using MPLAB on a Windows XP laptop and the PIC PicKit 2  all Summer for FF.  It has worked very well with a PIC18F4520.
I keep "FORTH: A Text and Reference", "Forth Programmer's Handbook" as well as eForth documentation handy.

Mikael has done a great job with FF and I think it and a PIC18 series processor can be an excellent Forth learning tool.

Let us know how ypu do with it.

Pete