AK2 said:I am currently learning C so that I can design a project using a pic microcontroller. I want to learn C first before studying the microcontroller. I want to ask, what topics should I learn, so that I will be using what I need to know to program the chip. Thanks
berkeman said:What other languages have you used, or is C the first one you are learning? Are you using the K&R book to self-study? Or do you have some other C learning resources?
Have you used Assembly Langauge before? I think it might be more intuitive to learn PIC assembly first, and write some simple programs with assembly. Then look at how you can make them more readable and maintainable by writing them in C.
Just going front-to-back in K&R is not a bad way to learn C, as long as you are comfortable with self-study.
Okefenokee said:AK, I was a C pro before I saw my first microcontroller (miC for short). It didn't look like anything I had ever done before. Beyond languages, there are a multitude of programming paradigms. You can't just write a program for a miC like you would see in the C books. For a micC, you have to ensure that volatile memory is placed in RAM and not FLASH, you have ensure that the startup code is placed at the zeroth address, there is no operating system in a miC to provide dynamic memory allocation so you must define all memory at compile time, and you have to write your own interrupts.
I really think you should just plunge straight into a C book designed for miC's. The only thing you need to know about the actual language of C is the bare basics: math operators and relational operators, bit-wise operators, include files and source files, functions, structures, pointers, branches, and loops. That's it. You don't even need to know much about the print() function even though you'll see it over and over in tutorials. Printing is provided by the OS and, like I said, the OS doesn't typically exist in a miC unless you put one there.
Bit-wise operations are the most important thing for miC's that you won't see much of in the C books . A typical operation in a miC is to get a flag register from memory and mask it to see if some operation is completed (an analog to digital conversion perhaps). You'll be doing that over and over.
C programming is a high-level programming language used to develop software and applications for various platforms, including embedded systems. It is important for embedded systems design because it allows for efficient and precise control over hardware components, such as microcontrollers, and enables developers to optimize code for specific hardware requirements.
A PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit that is used to control electronic devices. C programming is commonly used to write code for PIC microcontrollers, as it provides low-level access to hardware components and allows for efficient and compact code.
Learning C for embedded systems design with PIC microcontroller has several advantages, including the ability to write efficient and optimized code for specific hardware requirements, access to low-level hardware components for precise control, and compatibility with various platforms and devices.
While prior knowledge of programming and electronics can be helpful, it is not necessary to have any specific prerequisites for learning C for embedded systems design with PIC microcontroller. This course is designed for beginners and covers all the necessary concepts and skills to get started with C programming for embedded systems.
Throughout this course, you will work on hands-on projects that simulate real-world scenarios, such as controlling LED lights or reading sensor data. These projects will help you apply the skills learned in a practical manner and gain experience in using C for embedded systems design. Additionally, the concepts and techniques taught in this course can be applied to a wide range of embedded systems projects, making it a valuable skill for any aspiring embedded systems developer.