Programming 32-Bit Microcontrollers in C: Exploring the Pic32 [With CDROM]

by Lucio Di Jasio

*Just months after the introduction of the new generation of 32-bit PIC microcontrollers, a Microchip insider and acclaimed author takes you by hand at the exploration of the PIC32 *Includes handy checklists to help readers perform the most common programming and debugging tasks The new 32-bit microcontrollers bring the promise of more speed and more performance while offering an unprecedented level of compatibility with existing 8 and 16-bit PIC...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0750687096
• ISBN13: 9780750687096
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Newnes
• Length: 552 Pages
• Weight: 2.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 7.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Best high end Microcontroller book on the market

This is a must have for anyone building sophisticated applications for DsPic or Pic32. I found that most of what I wanted to learn was covered, and in a manner that was to the point coding wise and very easy to understand. I have programmed with Assembly and Basic for most of my Pic projects and yet jumping back into C was very easy with this book. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in the 16 and 32 bit micros, even if you have limited C programming experience or limited understanding of the new PIC architectures. This is by far the best out of the top 3 books I have purchased since 1991 when I got involved with industrial controls using micro-controllers. It's clear, concise and to the point. DiJasio does not ramble or go off on tangents as most books in this area do, and makes it very easy to just dive right in and start coding your own custom application based on his ideas.

excellent overview

This is a well written, enjoyable introduction to both the hardware and programming of PIC32's. It is written at an introductory to intermediate level and has broad coverage. If you are brand new to PICs, you may find it throws a lot at you fast, but you will be able to follow with a little work. If you are a veteran PIC user, but not necessarily a PIC32 veteran, you will get a lot out of this book. One thing to note: this book makes little use of the PIC32 peripheral library code in favor of developing its own mini-libraries. The good thing about this is that you learn more about the details of the peripheral hardware and the Special Function Registers. The drawback is that you are unlikely to program the PIC32 this way; you will probably use the peripheral libraries.

A Good Book For Those New To The PIC32/MIPS

A Good Book For Those New To The PIC32/MIPS Lucio Di Jasio, Senior Applications Engineer, follows on his book, Programming 16-Bit PIC Microcontrollers in C: Learning to Fly the PIC 24 (Embedded Technology), with a similar look yet specific to the PIC32/MIPS 32-bit architecture. The style of this book departs from the previous in that the aeronautical theme "flying" has been nearly removed (there is still a debriefing section at the end of each chapter or "Day" as well as "checklists"). Other than those differences, the books are very much the same. So, if you enjoyed Lucio's first book, you will also enjoy this book. The "Tips & Tricks", "Notes for the C Experts", "Notes for the MIPS Experts" and "Notes for 8/16-bit PIC Microcontroller Experts" are similar to the previous book and are very useful. That said, this book will not teach you the MIPS architecture, but will teach you the PIC32 with mention of how the PIC32 designers adapted prior PIC innovations to the PIC architecture. To learn MIPS (Specifically, the MIPS 4K core) as well as the PIC32, you should also consider the book See MIPS Run, Second Edition (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Computer Architecture and Design) and, to a lessor extent MIPS Assembly Language Programming (for the hard core assembly enthusiasts). If your goal is simply to learn the PIC32, this book will get you started. There are many interesting basic projects in the book including those dealing with the usual; interrupts, LCD, RS232, etc. The project ("Day 6: Memory") is of particular note as the MIPS memory architecture is unlike the classic PIC architecture (it is not a Harvard architecture). Nearly all aspects of the PIC32 are covered including the PMP, A/D converter, and timers/comparators. The final "Days" of the book include projects on File IO, Mass Storage, PWM playback of WAV files and even a simply video generation project. The book is slightly out of date due to updates in the C32 compiler (clearly the author cannot be held accountable for such changes), and a few missing mentions of defines required for some projects, and there are some rough spots where you really need to pay attention to the entire book to get a project to run (specifically the chapter or "Day 10: Glass = Bliss"). The project is well worth learning, but I found that in order to make sense of the code presented I needed to refer to the author's code (I generally like to type code and debug it as I go - your mileage may vary). The required files were a bit confusing. There are a few errors in the book, none that are serious, however, they is no mention on the errata page. Perhaps this is not an issue though as it does make you learn more about the PIC32 since you must refer to the data sheet and compiler include files to remedy the errors. So, to summarize, I'd recommend this book in an instant to the individual that wants a guided tour of the new PIC32, does not want to begin by reading the data sheet (you should definitely read t

Excellent, a must buy for anyone interested in the PIC32

This is an excellent companion to the PIC32 processor, the topics and software provided are perfect. Like his previous book on the PIC24, Di Jasio identified the key elements of the PIC32 and its peripherals and helps the reader through using them in practical, easy to understand terms that often build on previously learned information. If you are used to Microchip 8 bit processors, this is your book to step up to 32 bits, if you have experience with the 16 bit PIC24s, the PIC32 will feel very familiar. It is a must buy for anyone who plans to use the PIC32 or the least bit curious about its capabilities.

Outstanding book on the PIC32

If you want to learn the PIC32, the is THE book to get. For anyone familiar with any of the PIC line: PIC16, PIC18, PIC24 or dsPIC, this book makes learning the PIC32 a snap. After reading the book I was able to port an entire suite of my PIC24 apps over to the PIC32 in a matter of hours. This book makes moving from any of the other PICs to the PIC32 easy and straightforward. It does a great job of walking through the architecture, showing what the differences are, and how to use the new capabilities. For those new to the PIC architecture, this book does a very good job of describing the PIC32 microcontroller and how to program it. The examples used are interesting and well paced, and cover nearly every major feature of the PIC32. I almost never give out five star ratings to anything, but I gave this one five stars because it is worth it. Key thing to keep in mind if you do purchase the book, is that it expects you to already know the C programming language. No wasted space on trying to spoon feed C to newbies. So if you are new to C or have only used assembler in the past, it's time to get serious and learn C - download any of the free C compiler's from Microchip's Dev Tools web site, and then sit down and get ready to program a screaming fast machine.