Best platform for learning embedded programming? [closed]

Answer 1

Myself I've worked in embedded programming for 9 years now and have experience on TI MSP430, Atmel AVR (a couple of flavours) and will be using an ARM soon.

My suggestion is to pickup something that has some extra features in the processor like ethernet controller and CAN controller, even get two or three if you can. Embedded devices are nice to work with, but once they can talk to other similar devices via CAN or get onto a network, they can become much more fun to play with.

Answer 2

Take a look at Processing and the associated Arduino and Wiring boards.

Answer 3

Many moons ago I've worked with 8-bitters like 68HC05 and Z80, later AVR and MSP430 (16-bit). However most recent projects were on ARM7. Several manufacturers offer ARM controllers, in all colors and sizes (well, not really color).

ARM(7) is replacing 8-bit architecture: it's more performant (32-bit RISC at faster instruction cycles than most 8-bitters), has more memory and is available with several IO-configurations. I worked with NXP LPC2000 controllers, which are also inexpensive (< 1 USD for a 32-bitter!).

If you're in Europe http://www.olimex.com/dev/index.html has some nice low-cost development boards. Works in the rest of the world too :-)

Answer 4

ARM has the nicest instruction set of the widely used embedded platforms, leaving you free to pick up the general principles of writing software for embedded platforms without getting bogged down in weird details like non-orthogonal registers or branch delay slots. There are plenty of emulators - ARM's own, while not free, is cycle-accurate; and a huge variety of programmable ARM-based hardware is cheap and easy to come by as well.

Answer 5

The TI MSP430 is a great platform for learning how to program microcontrollers. TI has a variety of FREE Tools and some cheap evaluation boards (starting at $20). Plus, it's a low-power, modern microcontroller.

Answer 6

A nice choice would be PIC18 by Microchip

• It has quite alot of material, documentation, tutorials and projects on the internet

• Free IDE and compiler.

• you can pull your own flash writer in a few minutes. (Although for a debugger to work you'll need to work harder)

• If you're a student (or has a student email address) Microchip will send you free sample chips. So basically you can have a full development environment for close to nothing.

• PICs are quite prevalent in the industry. Specifically as controllers for robots for some reason although they can do so much more.