cheapest microcontroller for a noob with high level programming language skills?

I would reccomend ARM7 based controllers, there are some quite small and low cost versions, and cheap evaluation boards to try them out. Try the lpc2000 group on Yahoo groups for recommendations on cheap tools and boards, there are a lot of hobbyists on that group and you will also find projects with PCB layouts to download from the file section if you fancy building your own kit.

The adavatage of these devices for an experienced programmer is that you get a very convential programmers model, unlike many small microcontrollers such as the PIC which have odd and limited models. The ARM7 has a straightforward 32bit Von Neuman architecture. You can e.g. malloc(3000) and cast it to an array of structures. You can use pointers as you would on a PC and expect efficient code to be produced. You can build arbitrary look up tables in Flash without special tricks. (These points should also give you some idea of the problems you can have coding on little micros!). You can use the GNU toolchain to build ARM7 apps.

Thankfully you don't have to. What made you think you did ?

I've always used high or intermediate level languages to program microcontrollers, only recently having to use assembler for a little DSP that only had support at that time for same.

Graham

You might check out the PIC microcontrollers. You can get a cheap device such as 16F628 with 2k of program ROM and 250 bytes of RAM and two 8 bit I/O ports for about $3. There are 3rd party basic compilers, but it's pretty easy to use in assembly. There are only 35 instructions and some are the same as in Basic of GOTO, CALL, ect. The development software (in assembly) is free from Microchip.com and you can build a programmer to load the compiled HEX file into the device with just a few parts.

For a tutorial, you might check this link:

-Bill

pretty much, but you pay for computing power too.

most micros can be programmed in C often the compiler is free/cheap but in assembler you can do more as c compilers bloat the size of the binary, still if you have a small task and a small (cheap) micro, C could work.

don't be. questions that are too short are frustrating to the reader.

AVR (atmel.com) or PIC (microchip.com)

parts are available from the usual sources (I see you're in USA so digikey.com, mouser.com).

if you want to learn assembler go with the AVR its assembler is easier to learn

for a first project just wire the chip up to some LEDs and make it light them some pattern, then make the pattern move.

if you're wanting to avoid the electronics part there are development boards out there but they cost. However when it doesn't work you can be pretty sure it's your software, not your hardware giving you the problem.

Bye. Jasen

You simply will not be able to beat the PIC-AXE. It's like a Parallax BASIC Stamp, but much cheaper and simpler to use. Tons of info on the net, and magazines like Silicon Chip run dozens of projects using it. There is no simpler way to get into microcontrollers.

Dave :)

Wow, that's just the kind of info i was looking for. I've been reading through it, and that code isn't really that hard to follow. It's always a power & flexibility vs. cash dynamic really.. I might just grab one of those and cut my teeth on it, then move up to something bigger and cooler.

I've heard a lot about the Pic-Axe, It sounds like it might be a good compromise between a low level design where i have to build my own pc interface (like the schematics in the tutorial bill linked) and parallax systems that cost an arm and a leg, but handle the nitty gritty for me.