Beginner's Guide To Embedded C Programming: Using The Pic Microcontroller And The Hitech Picc-Lite C Compiler

The C language has been covered in many books but none as dedicated to the embedded microcontroller beginner as the Beginner's Guide to Embedded C Programming. Through his down to earth style of writing Chuck Hellebuyck delivers a step by step introduction to learning how to program microcontrollers with the C language. In addition he uses a powerful C compiler that the reader can download for free in a series of hands on projects with sample code so you can learn right along with him. For the hardware he found the best low cost but effective development starter kit that includes a PIC16F690 microcontroller and everything else the beginner needs to program and develop embedded designs, even beyond the book's projects. There isn't a better entry level guide to learning embedded C programming than the Beginner's Guide to Embedded C Programming.

Customer Reviews:

High price - poor value - not recommended

By zenscope - January 14, 2009

SUMMARY:
Friendly, personal approach to learning
Clear examples
Not professional
Bloated without purpose
Major content missing, even for a beginner
Way too expensive

EDIT:
The gushing five-star review by "Richard O. Scherlitz"... he provided the cover design for this book. I'd take his review with a grain of salt.

REVIEW:
I understood by looking at the title that I'd be in for some review material while reading, but that prospect did not bother me. By page 40, I was getting bored, but really eager to get into the meat of embedded PIC programming, so I skimmed ahead, passing several pages on topics I was quite familiar with. I skimmed even further, twenty more pages through almost text-less pages of screenshots on how to setup MPLAB. Some of these screenshots show nothing to select other than the "Next" button on the dialog box. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that the content never progresses, rather, the author... read more

a tool for the absolute beginner

By Andrea Spinelli "spindler" - September 10, 2008

For those who want to start programming the PIC MCUs using the C language this is the right tool. Extremely simple and clear, the author teaches step by step how to use the Microchip's PICKIT2 with the PIC 16F690 and the freely downloadable HI-TECH PICC-LITE C Compiler (the version included in the CD that comes together with the PICKIT2 isn't working).
I did all the experiments and everything worked fine even though there are only few of them and the matter could have been treated more widely. Content rather poor for the price of the book.

Don't waste your money!

By S. Coburn - February 21, 2009

This is the only review I have ever felt compelled to write.

I purchased this book, and "Programming 8-bit Microcontrollers in C" (Bates). Opening both books side by side, I can't believe I was duped by the five star reviews of this book. Granted, the author gives himself 5 stars in the CUSTOMER review section of each of his books. That should have been the first red flag.

I won't repeat what the others have said; I agree completely with the negative reviews. The quality of this book is atrocious. Pick up the "Programming 8-bit Microcontrollers in C" instead.