AVR Microcontroller tutorial

Every programmer strives to break his big program into small, preferably independent pieces

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I don't seem to be able to do it.... My programs get bigger and bigger and bigger.... Separation of Concerns!! I get carried away!! LOL.. I'll never be a good programmer...

Ian Rogers said:

I don't seem to be able to do it.... My programs get bigger and bigger and bigger.... Separation of Concerns!! I get carried away!! LOL.. I'll never be a good programmer...

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I do it too, but I am obsessed with quality programming.
When I have some inspiration for a project, I just go for it and then the code is straight forward... it is fun to get the hardware doing what it is supposed to as fast as possible.
But, I have many C modules that compiles easily for avr, pic, linus, unix.. without modification. And that helps to put projects up and running fast.
It is nice to compile same file (module) that handles top level communications in microcontroller and in PC.. and they work together.

I need to start learning C in an Mcu environment. My backgnd is BASIC and asm. I understand the hardware very well. This way I can choose the MCu thats appropriate for the app, C being portable and all.
I hear that AVR has the better C dev environment tools?

Can you guys guide me here as to which is the better C environment to learn in?

thanks
Ancel

Edit:And suggest a development board to use as well!

I´d say that AVR is better off, as the compiler (avr-gcc) for it is free and unlimited by code size or anything else, with wide range of supporting libraries.
Since there always has been just a single C compiler (now there are more, but mostly not free) the supporting libraries are not shattered by being compatilble only with this compiler and not that one, and the features of the compiler and libraries are well documented and tested.

As for the development board, I would use any of the arduino boards and simply load them with your own code. Again they are well proven. Personally I would go with the Arduino Mega 2560 if you plan on going big, otherwise choose any of the smaller chips that fit your needs.
Or get a TQFP adapter PCB, solder in some of the Xmega series chips, they have even more peripherals available. You don´t need much hardware to support these chips, just a few caps and a power supply.

How about this for a starter board?
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/s...&catalogId=10001&pa=2157466&productId=2157466

I have PL2303 usb/232 cables which i hope will work with it.