Non Linux embedded/SBC/microcontrollers?
 

Is this a place or is there a better place to discuss systems such as microcontrollers which may not run Linux directly but we may do development/debugging/programming/etc on Linux.

I was looking at the Pic Microcontrollers again thinking my son may be interested in learning to program/build. They are too small and limited to run Linux themselves but Microchip has that mplab available for linux and I was researching to see what else might be available.

was wondering if this might be an appropriate place.

Check out ardunio. The development tools are open source java based. There are starter kits which might be what you are looking for.

Member response
 

Hi,

Possibly another one to look at: ODROID-C1 USA Vendor

Have fun & enjoy!
:hattip:

I've heard of the odroid, its a higher end running linux (I'm thinking of a U3 for my web server). I'm talking about simple controllers that can't run an OS like Linux like the Pic or Ardunio. Is there any interest in this, is a Linux forum like this a place where it could be discussed?

Within the LQ community there are the General forum (there's a Linux one and just a General one) and the Programming one where they're not specifically there for Linux. The issue with the General forum is that the topics are completely open. The issue with the Programming forum is that embedded questions may generally end up being referred back to this forum. Microchip is a good choice because MPLab is or was free whereas the Arduino stuff either has all kinds of complicated stuff you have to install just to use it, and then they limit the size of what you can compile. With Microchip I edit in emacs and then just use MPLab to program the device, or maybe debug too.

Once someone has an idea of non-OS embedded programming, I do also recommend looking at the Beaglebone to play with the interfaces like I2C, SPI, etc. I've found it helpful to be able to deal with those things under Linux as well as on the traditional embedded micros.

Linked In also has some very good embedded discussion groups.

My #1 recommendation for new learners of embedded is: "Don't use provided libraries!!!" Write your own code, it'll be smaller, likely more efficient, and you'll know exactly what it's doing, as well as learn by the act of doing it!!!"

Many's the time I've seen people make this cool little test invention just for the fun of it, but they get hung up because the I2C or UART is doing something weird and it ends up because they're using the system provided libraries (usually the free ones, commercially paid for ones actually aren't so bad and they have support).

That and buy/provide him with an O-Scope.

Moderator response
 

This forum is the right place for this type of discussion. Most devices of the type you are wanting to use will be interfaced to a system and not run the OS directly. You can get a variety of Ardunio interfaces that are supported and provide interactive expansion for the device.

Raspberry Pi has several interfaces supported sub-systems to provide the means of accessing the world. Homebrew is another way of developing interfaces for your control of a particular device.
Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!
:hattip:

Thanks fellow slacker.

I'm interested in the stuff like Arduino and PIC and others. Used to mess around with the PIC in college and was into robotics, going to start playing around with it again.

I've downloaded Microchips MPLAB IDE, will go get the Arduino stuff now. There is a local computer store that added a hobby section that has ardiuno stuff, I'll have to run by there and have a look and see what all they have.

Just wondered if anyone else is interested or working on projects with these around here.

Ran over to the computer store at lunchtime and picked up a clearance Arduino micro. They also have some clones (inland) for really cheap as well.

AVR is somewhat easier to develop for compared to PIC (in my experience)

Part of the reason is because of AVR-GCC
and a quite complete AVRLIBC available