microchip kit question

[1/137]

I bought a microchip explorer 16 starter kit (cheap!) and it looks like all the software tools are windows based. I've been all Linux for a year now and I'd prefer NOT to have to set up an XP machine. Does anyone have any advice about using this kit with Linux based software? Or, at least to start, should I put XP on a drive and deal with the Linux issue later?

explorer 16 starter kit:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/id...cName=en027853

thank you,
rt

[PigletsDad]

My impression is that Microchip devices are not so well supported on Linux.

The AVR devices have excellent support, but the Microchip architecture is incompatible with gcc, and so tool developers faced a much bigger job.

When I looked at this last, I came to the conclusion that AVR development would be an easier target from Linux.

This is purely theoretical - I haven't done anything with either yet!

[1/137]

PigletsDad,
Thank you! I did notice that the package manager in Ubuntu had some PIC software.....I just remembered this...so I guess I ought to look at it....

I really do NOT want to go back to windows for any reason!

rt

[1/137]

maybe it's not so thin...but I'm still open to advice!
rt

Simulator for Microchip's PIC microcontrollers
Gpsim is a full-featured software simulator for Microchip PIC microcontrollers.

Gpsim has been designed to be as accurate as possible. Accuracy includes the
entire PIC - from the core to the I/O pins and including ALL of the internal
peripherals. Thus it's possible to create stimuli and tie them to the I/O pins
and test the PIC the same PIC the same way you would in the real world.

Gpsim has been designed to be as fast as possible. Real time simulation speeds
of 20Mhz PICs are possible.

Gpsim has been designed to be as useful as possible. The standard simulation
paradigm including breakpoints, single stepping, disassembling, memory inspect
& change, have been implemented. In addition, gpsim supports many debugging
features that are only available with in-circuit emulators. For example, a
continuous trace buffer tracks every action of the simulator. Also, it's
possible to set read and write break points on values (e.g. break if a specific
value is read from or written to a register).

[davesaudio]

microchip forum has a sub forum dedicated to linux
ask your questions there or the piclist
http://forum.microchip.com/tt.aspx?f...=1&smode=1&p=1

[1/137]

davesaudio,
Thank you...I did not think they offered any support for Linux...!!!

I have not worked with C or Assembler for 20 years so maybe...to keep things simple...I'll start using their Windows based IDE..although eventually I do want to move everything to Linux...

thanx again,
rt