Look at that - it's only the 2nd of Jan ad we're at it already...
Woah there, me old hipster chum...
Whats the market for PICAXE?
Education and hobbyists for 90% of the time?
So, I agree with your main categories, but what's the rough split?
I always like your analogies but the Formula One comparison really doesn't get onto the back row of the grid. And it's certainly behind Jenson Button.
I'm sure Rev-Ed
intend to update and modify.
I
intend to do a lot of things.... the cheque's in the post.... the world's most popular intention eh?
Yes, I have seen updates and some additions, but NOTHING significant in the meat. Sorry.
For many, if not most, PICAXE will be the first step onto the micro ladder.
(So, at this stage you know nothing about MAX232s so let's not go off at a tangent here.)
You then (hopefully) start reading the Manual.
And, yes, for most people there is enough info on how to flash and many other things.
In most resepect its very good. In many cases, however, it's not so clear.
As we know, many people learn more quickly by looking at worked examples.
The Manual is a bit 'thin' in this respect.
It always gives me the impression of a good 'summary' rather than a
learning aid - which is surely most of the raison d'etre?
Revolution
EDUCATION.
Look at the
setfreq example. The lack of explanations are fairly obvious.
Why should people have to post a question or spend an hour searching on the FORUM for the sake of 2 sentences which someone could have added to the Manual??
And surely Rev-Ed have had enough time to go through and check spelling and typoes? Surely...? They've been there for years.
"pulsin 3,1,w1 ‘ record the length of a pulse on pin 3 into b1"
- really? Whats a Newbie going to make of that?
PUT.
Function:
Write data into scratchpad location.
Example:
put 1,b1 ‘ save value of b1 in register 1
put 1, word w1
'Scratchpad locations' one minute then
'registers'.
A minor example of inconsistency but please consider the Newbie and people who are non-English speakers.
If you want to see a good example aimed at education (and Newbies) then check out the old fat Basic Stamp Manual.
And, if a large target is schools the SURELY the Manual should almost be a working 'exercise book' for reference in the classroom? (Even if it saves the red faced DNT teacher who doesn't know the subject}
Please note: I am trying to be diplomatic and constructive here.
So, write the manual with the main content as we have already and THEN supplement each section with further explanation, worked examples and even some basic circuits to see it in action.
Assume the knowledge is almost ZERO, then the PICAXE Manual will become THE reference.
The experienced user can read the main body and skim the examples. The Newbie can study the examples and see how the code is structured, and where necessary see how it relates to external circuitry.
A lot of work yes... but should have been started years ago.
Apologies if the above has sounded rude, it's not meant to be.
I'm telling you what I'd like to see if I was still wet behind the ears.