Programming and Customizing Picmicro (R) Microcontrollers [With CDROM]

by Myke Predko

Book Overview

Provides coverage of the PICMicros' hardware architecture and software schemes. This book includes a printed Circuit Board for PICMicro programmers. It features projects including a PICMicro based... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071361723
• ISBN13: 9780071361729
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: Tab Books
• Length: 1190 Pages
• Weight: 4.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 7.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Best PIC Reference Available

I have found this book to be the most thorough compilation of PIC micro information that is available. Again and again, I have looked at other books, then returned to Predko. It covers just about any topic you can imagine - - PIC hardware, timers, LCDs, various types of interfacing & communications, motors & servos, emulators, and on and on. Here, in one book, you can get the author's advice and a short example for just about anything you're doing with the PIC. While I do not recommend this book for people just beginning to learn about PICs, it should be on everyone's shelf as a reference, once you have been through your first course.

Mind Numbingly Technical

It's a great book, no question. But Predko gets so bogged down in technical minutia that it's incredibly frustrating for beginners with little or no knowledge of the PIC and Assembly Language programming. It does include a programmer and tons of software along with some primers in basic electronics and programming theory, but it all suffers from hyper technical jargon and glosses over topics useful to beginners with this preconceived notion that you already know these things, so why waste time here? Ironically enough, Predko's claim that complaints about the First Edition being overly technical was his inspiration to write the second. Amazing, I can only imagine what the First Edition looked like. I don't mean to be completely negative though, it's a great book with a lot of added value (via the programmer and software) It definitely has a place on your bookshelf if you're interested in PIC programming and has a great collection of experiments, including ultrasonic range finding that are just enthralling. The best.Buy it, but if you are a beginner plan on going though it after you have read a more basic introduction to the PIC and Assembly. IMO, that's the only way a beginner will truly appreciate this book.

Good clear reference, nice layout.

This is a very complete book, taking you from A to Z in PIC land. It even includes a printed circuit board to build a programmer for a PIC, which makes the expieriments easier to follow and understand. I would divide the book into two parts, the hands on stuff, and the textbook part. Both are useful and compliment each other very nicely.The only complaint I have is that for bare bones beginners in everyting, it goes a little too fast. In a book with so much depth as this one, its hard to avoid.

Great Book with Lots of Extras

Not only is this a great book, but the CD-ROM and PCB that comes with it makes the whole package really special! I just finished building the elcheapo programmer PCB that comes with the book and I've started working through the experiments. I've never seen a technical book that allowed me to get started so easily.The CD-ROM that comes with the book is fantastic - it could be sold on it's own. Each experiment and project has it's own html page (including graphics showing you how to wire the circuits) along with all the tools that you will need to develop your own projects. I really liked all the web pages devoted to example code that you can cut and paste into your own PIC projects. The CD-ROM has two large (over 100 page) pdfs "Introduction to Electronics" and "Introduction to Programming" that will help newbies understand the background to how the PIC is used in circuits. The extras (PCB and CD-ROM) allow you to be productive with the PIC in a very short amount of time and give you everything you need to create your own applications

An Excellent PICmicro Book

Myke Predko has done it again!! The second edition of his book is a significant improvement on his already extremely complete first edition. In addition to adding 800 pages, he has also included the most useful CDROM I have ever received with a book. There are numerous data sheets, two complete 100+ page tutorials, and multiple useful software tools on the CDROM. And if that wasn't enough, he even includes a PCB so you can build your own PIC Programmer using commonly available components.The thing that has always impressed me about Predko's books are his in-depth programming examples and projects. When I first got the book, I excitedly skipped to the projects section to see what he had added and I wasn't disappointed! The book also presents an up to date coverage of the latest PICmicro tools and a debugging checklist that I found particularly interesting. A through coverage of software and hardware development techniques is included in the book that is suitable for someone with a moderate level of Microcontroller Development Experience. Those needing a more basic level of knowledge can refer to the tutorials on the CDROM.I highly recommend Programming & Customizing the PICmicro to students and professionals alike, I'm sure you will find it as useful as I have.Ben WirzPresident, Wirz Electronics