I'll leave someone else to explain the difference between GCBasic and C. With the ability to add assembly instructions, or manually manipulate the peripheral registers from the data sheet, there is little that cannot be done with GCBasic. Lots of demo programs available, and help on the forum here to keep things moving when someone has a question, or gets stuck.
A Pickit 3 programmer and the Mplab IPE would future proof for all new devices that you might encounter. A Pickit 2 works well, especially with Williams updated device file, and could handle the 18f2431 and all the previous generation devices.
A couple of different ways to approach development. One, is to use the breadboard method, like seen in the attachment.
Two, a more specialized development board(s) like the Microchip HPC (high pin count) Discovery kit with onboard Low Voltage Programmer (not a big fan of LVP myself) http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=DM164136
An Olimex 28 pin count board if you can find one, https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/18
Or, some other premade board with the IC socket, pin headers, led, pot, switch etc. which can get things going a little faster.
Greetings, all!
Looking at getting in to PIC programming with GCB :-)
Just wondering how GCB compares, performance wise, with C compilers?
I am a BASIC programmer of 32 years and haven't ever found this great language to be lacking.
What exactly do I need to procure to get me going with the 18f2431 device?
Cheers!
I'll leave someone else to explain the difference between GCBasic and C. With the ability to add assembly instructions, or manually manipulate the peripheral registers from the data sheet, there is little that cannot be done with GCBasic. Lots of demo programs available, and help on the forum here to keep things moving when someone has a question, or gets stuck.
A Pickit 3 programmer and the Mplab IPE would future proof for all new devices that you might encounter. A Pickit 2 works well, especially with Williams updated device file, and could handle the 18f2431 and all the previous generation devices.
A couple of different ways to approach development. One, is to use the breadboard method, like seen in the attachment.
Two, a more specialized development board(s) like the Microchip HPC (high pin count) Discovery kit with onboard Low Voltage Programmer (not a big fan of LVP myself) http://www.microchipdirect.com/ProductSearch.aspx?Keywords=DM164136
An Olimex 28 pin count board if you can find one, https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/18
Or, some other premade board with the IC socket, pin headers, led, pot, switch etc. which can get things going a little faster.
Ah, I had planned to grab a PIC Kit 3, no matter what but I do like the look of the HPC Discovery Kit with the Mikrobus headers.
Many thanks!
If you are thinking of ordering it from Microchip Direct use this code in Checkout EOY2016DT it will get you an US$8 Discount on the HPC Curiosity.
http://www.microchip.com/Developmenttools/ProductDetails.aspx?PartNO=DM164136
EDIT:
You said Discovery but I think you ment Curiosity - if you didn't then please forgive me.
Last edit: Chris Roper 2016-12-07
Thanks Chris.
Yes, it's the Curiosity, right enough. When I typed that, I was looking at the post above (kent_twt4) where ii was mentioned "Discovery kit".
GCB looks very cool, I love that it supports in-line ASM but the compiler looks pretty darn good...might never need ASM.
Have a look at this one also: https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1CHYD_enGB592GB592&espvd=2&biw=1600&bih=804&output=search&tbm=shop&q=DM164137+price&oq=DM164137+price&gs_l=products-cc.3...16238.16701.0.17243.2.2.0.0.0.0.52.98.2.2.0....0...1ac.1.64.products-cc..0.0.0.Bn8qjkHt1lc#spd=15083887980931206317
Only good for 20pin devices, right? I am looking at 28pin and 40pin.
Supports 8-pin, 14-pin and 20-pin but not 28-pin and 40-pin.
Buy, both. :-)