16 Feb
2010
16 Feb
'10
2:10 a.m.
Chuck Guzis wrote:
With reference to Arudinos, someone wrote:
At least for most hobbyists like myself, those boards (and development
boards) are very important because they provide a known good starting point.
Like you mentioned, lots of devices are only SMT now, and without some
type of board, schmartboard, etc, just make it tough to do anything
with. You can't just plop one down on a solderless breadboard. Sure
you can get surfboards, but it's just a PITA.
There are sometimes specialty power issues to deal with, multiple
voltages required, tolerances. Filtering done properly.
They usually provide a convenient programming interface.
They usually provide the programming cables, software, power supplies.
Sometimes IDENTIFYING and SOURCING the appropriate oscillators,
crystals, etc etc can be a big PITA.
There are so many things to learn about when getting into a new
technology (new to the user), like microcontrollers and FPGAs, that it
really helps whenever the "basic requirements" are met.
In regards to some of the comments about development tools and
equipment, I think that things have become quite affordable! You can
buy microcontroller kits pretty cheap, and Xilinx's webpack ISE is
pretty darn powerful and free. A lot of these kits include in-circuit
emulators, source level debuggers, etc etc.
Keith
They're ready-made boards that aren't in
an application specific
chassis. :
I never could see the point to those. It's much easier just build up
your device using the bare chip. If one of the big AVRs, such as one
of the XMegas, it might make some sense in helping to deal with
handling an SMT package, sort of the way the ARM stamps do.
--Chuck