Microprocessor and Microcontroller Programming
Microprocessor and microcontroller programming, which are the mind products we can dominate in today's developing technology, are one of the beauties that make things easier in our lives. In order to benefit from these elements, it is necessary to send commands in a language they understand. This set of commands is also called a program.
The commands that microprocessors and controllers can understand are written in a low-level language called machine language. This language uses the binary number system. The binary number system is perhaps the number system consisting of 1 and 0 that has been heard since the first time they entered electronics. Machine language is very difficult to understand. For this reason, companies that produce microprocessors and microcontrollers create compilers for their products. These compilers convert a language that we can understand and use more easily into machine language and make the codes we write can be understood by them. In this way, even if we do not know the machine language, we can program microprocessors and microcontrollers with any language we know. There are certain languages that are widely used. These are lower level languages called "Assembly", intermediate level called "C" and upper level languages called "Basic".
Low-level languages are difficult to learn and to want to apply immediately. A person entering programming generally starts with C or Basic language. These are easy to learn and use. It is almost a must to know the C language nowadays. Even if programs are written with these languages, it is better to learn assembly language over time. Because we cannot do everything we want with these languages as an example. Assemby language is better for operations like precise timing. After learning one of these languages, we must decide what we want to do with microprocessors and controllers and write the necessary program in this direction. After writing our program, we compile the program with our compiler. After compiling, a file with an ".hex" extension will appear. This file is the form of our commands that are understood by microprocessors and controllers.
How do we send the .hex file
Here, too, programming devices suitable for the microprocessor and controller we use enter the circuit. If we want, we can buy these devices originally from manufacturers, find their clones in the market, and simply draw the circuit ourselves.
We insert the element we want to program into the socket on these devices and print our hex file. Or, we can send our program directly from the "ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming)" output of our programming device after providing the necessary connections directly on the board.