SparkFun Forums 

Where electronics enthusiasts find answers.

General suggestions or questions about the SparkFun Electronics website
By keithward
#3746
Some of these are from previous posts but I wanted to consolodate them just in case the moderators don't need to dig for them.

1. Products such as the PIC-MTC should be either shipped out with test software already programmed or have more complete software available just for sanities sake. One always has to wonder if the hardware is good during new development, especially if there is little experience. The software should exercise all of the features of the product using the existing I/O and the LCD as the menu (switches, led(s), relays, lcd, etc.).

2. Somewhere it should be mentioned that ICPROG when used with the NT driver needs admin privledges other wise error dialogs will appear.

3. Consider adding tables for product comparisons to several pages. This would allow easier selections of programmers in particular. Also a separate table should also be considered giving relative programming times for various devices under different environments (OS, ICPROG/MPLAB, device, program space, etc.)

4. Add a downloads page/link that contains samples for every processor or product, see note 1.

Thanks
User avatar
By sparky
#3798
Hey Keith,

Good ideas. We will try to cover them as much as prossible, but there is a lot you ask for!

1) We make example code for the PIC-MT available. But we try not to pre-load anything onto the chips. Customers should expect to receive a fresh, blank, micro.

2) Good point. Many customers are using their home machines with admin priviledges so this has not come up much.

3) We are working on a GPS selection guide. A GM862 guide to follow. As for the micro selection guide - that's a huge project. We will continue to provide as much recommendations as possible.

4) Love to but really don't have the time. We leave it up to our customers to do the google research themselves. Most anything can be located these days with a well phrased search. The list would be out of date as soon as it was posted - Olimex is already rolling out 4 new boards this month (MAXQ maybe) with many more to follow.

-Nathan