Programming concepts

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

How can i understand the concepts of programming microcontroller.

Nigel Goodwin · Nov 29, 2022

Silence19 said:
How can i understand the concepts of programming microcontroller.

Get one and play with it!.

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

Nigel Goodwin said:
Get one and play with it!.

Really Just that?
By the way am just a beginner.
Thanks

For The Popcorn · Nov 29, 2022

Watch some YouTube tutorial videos. Pick a platform to get started with, like Arduino or ESP32 and jump in.

rjenkinsgb · Nov 29, 2022

Silence19 said:
How can i understand the concepts of programming microcontroller.

If you really want to learn the fundamental concepts, I'd suggest looking at the block diagrams and assembly programming language of a simple PIC microcontroller, eg.

PIC MICROCONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE

PIC MICROCONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE It contains details on block diagram of each components of pic microcontroller modules with introduction

microcontrollerslab.com

https://www.covingtoninnovations.com/noppp/picassem2004.pdf

Assembly language is in effect a human-readable version of the machine code (the binary instructions the CPU reads and executes) using mnemonic names rather than the binary values.

Something like a PIC has a small instruction set, so fairly easy to understand - that one only has just over 50.
In comparison, something like a current PC CPU has thousands!

Or, if you just want to be able to program a device to make it do things, then an Arduino is the simplest route.
Those are normally programmed in C language (or C++), a high level language which is converted (compiled) to suit the instruction set of the target device by the Arduino programming package.

Software

Open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects.

www.arduino.cc

There are also thousands of existing projects you can just download, compile and run, with an appropriate arduino board connected to your PC via USB.

C is the most versatile language overall as it can be used with an appropriate compiler to create programs for anything ranging from a tiny 8 pin MCU, through the range of devices & systems up to supercomputers - but that also means the "mechanics" of the CPU instructions are hidden away from the programmer.

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

For The Popcorn said:
Watch some YouTube tutorial videos. Pick a platform to get started with, like Arduino or ESP32 and jump in.

Thanks u man

Ian Rogers · Nov 29, 2022

You can just start Arduino programming with an online tool.... It takes seconds to be up and running..

Arduino platforms are C++ but the minutest of high level...

Try https://wokwi.com/ it is pretty simple... AND FREE!!!

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

rjenkinsgb said:
If you really want to learn the fundamental concepts, I'd suggest looking at the block diagrams and assembly programming language of a simple PIC microcontroller, eg.

PIC MICROCONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE

PIC MICROCONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE It contains details on block diagram of each components of pic microcontroller modules with introduction

microcontrollerslab.com

https://www.covingtoninnovations.com/noppp/picassem2004.pdf

Assembly language is in effect a human-readable version of the machine code (the binary instructions the CPU reads and executes) using mnemonic names rather than the binary values.

Something like a PIC has a small instruction set, so fairly easy to understand - that one only has just over 50.
In comparison, something like a current PC CPU has thousands!

Or, if you just want to be able to program a device to make it do things, then an Arduino is the simplest route.
Those are normally programmed in C language (or C++), a high level language which is converted (compiled) to suit the instruction set of the target device by the Arduino programming package.

Software

Open-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects.

www.arduino.cc

There are also thousands of existing projects you can just download, compile and run, with an appropriate arduino board connected to your PC via USB.

C is the most versatile language overall as it can be used with an appropriate compiler to create programs for anything ranging from a tiny 8 pin MCU, through the range of devices & systems up to supercomputers - but that also means the "mechanics" of the CPU instructions are hidden away from the programmer.

Thanks

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

For The Popcorn said:
Watch some YouTube tutorial videos. Pick a platform to get started with, like Arduino or ESP32 and jump in.

Thnaks

danadak · Nov 29, 2022

Kids, and now adults for some specific quick turn projects, are using a
visual approach called block language programming. This is where you
drag and drop function blocks, like

The above is a very simple application, read a voltage and set a PWM duty cycle, its pulse width,
proportional to that voltage. Here its trivial to do, the blocks are dragged out of the 2'ond window
from left, and placed in 3'rd window, and configured, like pin number to read, pin number to output
PWM signal on. As you do this mBlock, this particular program, converts the block configuration into
Arduino code (C like code) and programs it. Thats the code you see in right hand window. Kids are using
this in 6'th grades to program robots and their movement. I use it to do fast turn around of simple stuff,
like below link. More complex stuff I do in C.

Pulse Sequence Generator / Smart Timer

Often users, developers, hobbyists need timed and qualified event generators, many resorting to 555 timers and the like. The venerable 555 has had a long run but its limited in accuracy and capability. This approach uses block language to create...

www.electro-tech-online.com

Here is what would have been fairly involved project, to do wireless application, done in Tuniot -

Verizon Hotspot Remote Control

Had a problem where I need low cost Network, internet access, at a remote site. Choose to work with Verizon 8800L as it got good reviews for normal attended usage. Motivation was Cell internet only added < $ 20 to the monthly bill. Problems ...

www.electro-tech-online.com

If you learn one block language there are quite a few variants, and its easy to do the other variants
because all the principals pretty much the same. mBlock, Snap4Arduino, Scratch, Visuino, Ardublock,
Tuniot.....

Then there are visual ones that do it like flow charts, Nodered, flowcode, in a flow chart format.

C code is called, rightfully so, a "strongly typed language". It means its not forgiving in the way
you type the instructions and code, how you use variables, etc.. So learning curve if you have never
programmed a tad steep, as is Assembler, appropriately called machine language, where you are
deep in the processor logic and its hardware.

But all people who have used a 4 function calculator have been programming most of their lives.
But the programming done in ones head, eg. the sequence of math operations, the type of operations,
all done typically in our Gerbil brain pans.

If you start with mBlock or Snap4Arduino, software is free, a low end but capable board ~ $3, Arduino
Nano, and a USB cable will get you started.

Regards, Dana.

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

danadak said:
Kids, and now adults for some specific quick turn projects, are using a
visual approach called block language programming. This is where you
drag and drop function blocks, like

View attachment 139482

The above is a very simple application, read a voltage and set a PWM duty cycle, its pulse width,
proportional to that voltage. Here its trivial to do, the blocks are dragged out of the 2'ond window
from left, and placed in 3'rd window, and configured, like pin number to read, pin number to output
PWM signal on. As you do this mBlock, this particular program, converts the block configuration into
Arduino code (C like code) and programs it. Thats the code you see in right hand window. Kids are using
this in 6'th grades to program robots and their movement. I use it to do fast turn around of simple stuff,
like below link. More complex stuff I do in C.

Pulse Sequence Generator / Smart Timer

Often users, developers, hobbyists need timed and qualified event generators, many resorting to 555 timers and the like. The venerable 555 has had a long run but its limited in accuracy and capability. This approach uses block language to create...

www.electro-tech-online.com

Here is what would have been fairly involved project, to do wireless application, done in Tuniot -

Verizon Hotspot Remote Control

Had a problem where I need low cost Network, internet access, at a remote site. Choose to work with Verizon 8800L as it got good reviews for normal attended usage. Motivation was Cell internet only added < $ 20 to the monthly bill. Problems ...

www.electro-tech-online.com

If you learn one block language there are quite a few variants, and its easy to do the other variants
because all the principals pretty much the same. mBlock, Snap4Arduino, Scratch, Visuino, Ardublock,
Tuniot.....

Then there are visual ones that do it like flow charts, Nodered, flowcode, in a flow chart format.

C code is called, rightfully so, a "strongly typed language". It means its not forgiving in the way
you type the instructions and code, how you use variables, etc.. So learning curve if you have never
programmed a tad steep, as is Assembler, appropriately called machine language, where you are
deep in the processor logic and its hardware.

But all people who have used a 4 function calculator have been programming most of their lives.
But the programming done in ones head, eg. the sequence of math operations, the type of operations,
all done typically in our Gerbil brain pans.

If you start with mBlock or Snap4Arduino, software is free, a low end but capable board ~ $3, Arduino
Nano, and a USB cable will get you started.

View attachment 139483

Regards, Dana.

Thanks

transconductance · Nov 29, 2022

I am surprised no-one has said this yet: Start a project.

By the time you have it working, you will have learned a lot.
For example, say you have a lot of houseplants, make an automatic watering controller.
Do you free-lance? Make a time-keeping gadget. Your other hobby is cooking? Make your own sous vide controller.
It doesn't matter what the project is.

Silence19 · Nov 29, 2022

transconductance said:
I am surprised no-one has said this yet: Start a project.

By the time you have it working, you will have learned a lot.
For example, say you have a lot of houseplants, make an automatic watering controller.
Do you free-lance? Make a time-keeping gadget. Your other hobby is cooking? Make your own sous vide controller.
It doesn't matter what the project is.

Ok but what programming language is good for microcontroller?
I have never programed one before

transconductance · Nov 29, 2022

You can start a bar fight with this question. Without identifying the microcontroller, my answer is "C"
and knowledge of C will serve you well even if you eventually do all of your development in Python.

Nigel Goodwin · Nov 29, 2022

Silence19 said:
Ok but what programming language is good for microcontroller?
I have never programed one before

Get an Arduino to play with, a Uno is a good choice - cheap and easy, using C++ (a superset of C), with millions of examples and tutorials available on-line. Don't mess with silly kids 'block' programming - unless you are a young kid of course.

danadak · Nov 29, 2022

Some would say unless you code in ASM at machine level your

just in childs play.

Some would say unless your projects start with AI and Tensor

analysis that your project is simply a dud on arrival.

Some would, and did, say using computers is pointless.

Some would say that the earth is flat or round, while in fact

its neither.

Its well understood in academic and business circles there

are various ways of learning, visual being one of the significant

ones.

IBM seems to think block/flow chart programming an important

contribution - https://developer.ibm.com/components/node-red/

Anyways watch a couple of videos, do same for C, learn both.

But if you just start with block note that you can see/look/modify

the generated C code, an intro to learning and seeing how C is

done while you are doing it.

And to close some would say its impossible to give a computer

a system/task description, voice or image, and that system in

turns generates all the code for the requirement. But those

folks would be wrong as well, its right around the corner.

Regards, Dana.

Pommie · Nov 29, 2022

Imagine your first day on a building site. Your boss says "you said you could lay bricks"? You reply, I'm an expert with Lego! Learn C, it's universal.

Mike.

MaxHeadRoom78 · Nov 29, 2022

In my opinion, if you want to learn what is going on "under the hood" is to get a grasp of Assembly programming, at least at first.
I'm sort of biased, because I have done it this way since My first, which was a PDP8 back in the late '70's.

PS:: In fact Nigel's tutorials are still up there!

Nigel's PIC Tutorial Page

Pommie · Nov 29, 2022

MaxHeadRoom78 said:
In my opinion, if you want to learn what is going on "under the hood" is to get a grasp of Assembly programming, at least at first.

I used to be of this opinion too. However, I find C to be very close to Assembler.
What is the difference between,

Code:

    BANKSEL    ADCON1
    movlw    b'11000000'    ; right justify, FOSC/4 vdd and vss vref
    movwf    ADCON1

And,

Code:

   ADCON1=b'11000000';    // right justify, FOSC/4 vdd and vss vref

I don't see how you learn more with the assembler version than the C version.
As long as you don't use provided libraries then you still need to learn the underlying hardware.

Mike.

danadak · Nov 29, 2022

MaxHeadRoom78 said:
In my opinion, if you want to learn what is going on "under the hood" is to get a grasp of Assembly programming, at least at first.
I'm sort of biased, because I have done it this way since My first, which was a PDP8 back in the late '70's.

PS:: In fact Nigel's tutorials are still up there!

Nigel's PIC Tutorial Page

I as well did PDP8 and 4004 assembler in first job.

Not in a hurry to go back to paper tape and non gui environments.

Regards, Dana.

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