Resources for C programming

From FIRSTwiki

C programming is used when programming the Robot Controller. Learning how to program is an important part of the FIRST Robotics Competition, and this page attempts to bring together diverse resources to aid in this process. The following should be used as a tutorial or reference, and comments or questions regarding programming (directly related to FIRST) should be directed to ChiefDelphi's programming forums.

Contents 1 FIRST specific resources 2 PIC specific resources 3 General C Internet sites 3.1 Tutorial 3.2 Reference 4 Books 4.1 Beginner 4.2 Intermediate 4.3 Reference

FIRST specific resources

• Robot Builder is an interactive introductory tutorial offered by Carnegie Mellon for FIRST teams. It is specifically for the Robovation (formerly EduBot {trademarked}), but is very relevent to the general RC.
• The C Programming Resource Library, offered by FIRST, is an exhaustive introduction to C programming specifically geared toward its use in the FIRST Robotics Competition. It contains five modules, offered as power point presentations.
• The documentation pages at InnovationFIRST provide a useful resource for the default code, white papers, and, most importantly perhaps, the manuals and reference guides for the current year's control system.
• The programming white papers at ChiefDelphi offer a useful source of periodically updated information. Available are many teams' descriptions of the problems they faced, and their solutions. Current topics include a GPS system based on IR, use of gyroscopes in tip prevention, and an implementation of the CORDIC algorithm (among many others).
• The IR code (and other tidbits), programmed mainly by Kevin Watson is useful when working with infra-red, or just trying to understand the new RC.
• The NRG Code Repository (external link) is also a useful resource for snippets of code. It is a community effort to contribute useful program code, for use by others and for their education. See NRG Code Repository (internal link).

PIC specific resources

• Microchip's website is a good source for a lot of PIC-related information. For the 2004 year, IFI used the Microchip PIC18F8520. See the data sheet, and the MPLAB Compiler's User Guide for more specific information.
• Eric's PIC Page offers many code samples, tips, and other guidelines and resources for working with a PIC chip.
• Myke Predko (of Reynold's Electronics) offers another useful PIC project page.

General C Internet sites

Tutorial

• C page from How Stuff Works
• C programming notes from a college class
• C programming tutorial from About.com

Reference

• C programming reference
• C library reference guide

Books

Beginner

• Practical C Programming by Steve Oulline - (ISBN: 0-937175-65-X) A nutshell handbook that explains everything from the basics on up, with an emphasis on style. Complete with Examples, Programming Exercises, and questions with answers at the end of each chapter. Also covers Electronic Archeology, the art of going through someone else's program.
• Beginning C by Ivor Horton

Intermediate

• The C Programming Language by Kernighan and Ritchie - (ISBN 0131103628) A respected book, the first (and to many) the best book written on the topic. If you have programming experience already, this is the book for you. This book "assumes you understand things like a = a + 1 and what a variable is."
• The Experimental College C Programming Tutorial (Click Here) - A great tutorial for intermediate and "advanced" C programmers.

Reference