PIC microcontrollers

programmed in C.

so anyone here a pic micro dev? just starting and have a few questions for the netz:
1) is it worth it to program in windows?
  >that is, i have all the command line tools i need for linux dev and can't seem to find a reason to switch to windows.
2) are there any libraries written in c for servo/pwm control?
  >i've found enough source code to be able to make something myself, but i'm not being paid to do this and not getting credit either and don't know if i have the time to complete my project before my deadline if i have to make everything.
3) anyone know how reliable pk2cmd is in linux?
  >i've tried flashing my pic with some test .hex files it came with (starter board) and nothing works. so i'm worried that it is the tool i'm using. i don't have access to windows until the weekend so i can't do much troubleshooting yet.

>>1
can't seem to find a reason to switch to windows.
Nor can we.

servo/pwm control?
The software part of that is easy, do it yourself. Good luck with the electronics, however.

I can't help with the specifics of Microchip controllers as I haven't worked with them. Sowwy.

>>2
haha the electronics is easier than you would think since i already have the motor driver boards and motors and encoders and such(and have worked with them before with atmel/arduino). it is the software that is trickier for me.

thanks anyway

get the book "Programming 32 bit Microcontrollers in C"

1) Never had much of a problem with MPLAB. I'm not sure if the C compiler is free though (company gave it me), so it might not be worth it for you.
2) Download the datasheet that stuff isn't difficult.
3) What's the error?

>>4
this doesn't make sense. pic18's are 16 bit... and i know all about programming in the 32 bit architecture. thanks though...

>>5
i don't have access to mplab yet (gotta convince sysadmin to let me install windows on a machine). i have the datasheet, that isn't the issue. there isn't an error code, so let me describe the issue in more depth:

-i have pk2cmd (the command line tool distributed by microchip for flashing their pic micros with the picKit2 usb programmer)
-i have the .hex files for demo programs distributed with my started board.
-when i flash the board with the pickit2/pk2cmd under linux the board doesn't do anything. (for instance there is a demo game of pong, but it isn't displayed in the OLED like it is supposed to)
-when i got the board from my advisor the demo pong game was on it and worked. he flashed the board from MPLAB (since he has a home machine with windows, i don't)

so basically i was wondering if anyone had any experience developing for pics in linux. since that is 'no' so far i will continue with my plan to get the sysadmin to let me install windows and resort to MPLAB which i was trying to avoid.

thanks again

>>6
gotta convince sysadmin to let me install windows on a machine
You're the reason sysadmins hate their users.

>>7
THIS.

Use virtual-box, son. And don't submit any more tickets or you'll find your password will change on a random basis.

>>7,8
lol i guess i could have been more specific: every machine is setup up for potential triple-boot(osx/ubuntu/windows) it's just a matter of actually installing the OS i want.

so it really isn't a big deal. and I would be the one to do everything. just need the go-ahead.

i'm not so much of a dink as to demand windows when the sysadmin only wants linux or osx on the machines.

although i'm sure he would appreciate the solidarity from anon