[PD] controlling robots/printers w/ PD

[Ian Smith-Heisters]

comments inline...

B. Bogart wrote:
> 
> Once still has to deal with ports and registers, so I guess there is
> only so much wrapping that they can do. But also the basic interpreter
> actually runs on the PIC on the stamp!!! pretty amazing.

The thing that gets me is the price of the Stamps. PICs range from 1USD 
all the way up to about 7USD, whereas stamps are at something like 
40-60USD. Of course you need the programmer for the PICs, but that's a 
one time cost. But I'm sure you know that with the whole AID project. 
Speaking of which, I want to build the AID board one of these days.

But I do think Stamp BASIC is easier than assembler, though I've only 
seen Stamp BASIC, never tried it.

> 
> Windows only yes.
> 
> For HW microcontroller stuff is... I heard about some linux toolkits for
> programming chips, but I don't think there is one for PICs... I can't
> remember the other manufacturer. AM something...
> 

There *is* one for PICs that I've heard some good things about. It was 
posted to the PIClist a couple days back, but I've deleted the message. 
It may have been at gputils.org They're also working on a new language 
for the PIC that would make it much easier to program.

But I think assembler is much maligned; it's actually easier than higher 
level languages in some ways. And of course there are a half dozen C 
compilers for PIC + Windows, and even an OSS Python compiler--if you 
don't mind not using the more modern PIC18.

Of course now I'm getting way OT, sorry.

-Ian

> B.
> 
> Mathieu Bouchard wrote:
> 
>> On Sat, 26 Mar 2005, B. Bogart wrote:
>>
>>
>>> One programs the BASIC stamp in BASIC, hence the name. No assembler
>>> required.
>>
>>
>>
>> My impression of BASICstamp's BASIC is that it's damn close to assembly
>> language. The use of the name "BASIC" is more marketing than anything
>> else. It's there to attract a generation of artists who are learning how
>> to code and solder in a fit of DYI-ness and are the right age to have
>> tried BASIC as a kid in a way that makes them nostalgic about it.
>>
>> Is there even a Linux interface for uploading to the BASICstamp ? I think
>> I recall it's Windows-only.
>>
>> _____________________________________________________________________
>> Mathieu Bouchard -=- Montréal QC Canada -=- http://artengine.ca/matju
>>
>>