Keith wrote:
Do you find that you spend most of your time on
projects that are well
within your knowledge and experience, or most of your time learning
about new technology/skills/programming language/hardware/etc to
facilitate accomplishing a new project?
It's probably about a 60-40 split for me.
Most of the time, if I want a quick solution to the problem, I'll get a
Roadrunner pen and build up something out of parts in my junk box, that
is, parts I've used before on other projects. This usually means I end
up with some microprocessor-controlled monstrosity.
There are exceptions -- I've spent the past couple of years learning
about programmable logic. I started out with GALs, then moved onto
Xilinx CPLDs (XC9500XL series), and have recently (as of mid-September
last year) started playing with Altera FPGAs. Every time I've made the
jump to something else, I've built something to help learn about that
technology --
- GALs - 6502 computer. Nearly every board has a 16V8/QP for address
decoding.
- CPLDs - LCD controller for a PIC. A 16-bit data serialiser / timing
generator to drive a small direct-drive LCD display panel.
- FPGAs - the DiscFerret.
At least this way I end up with something to show for my effort. And
it's more fun :)
--
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/