What kind of a job can I find if I learn the PIC C programmi

[Arakel]

Thanks to everyone for the help in advance! I understand that this is not a C question, but I want to ask what kind of a job can I find if I learn the PIC C programming?

Currently I can do this:

1. A program to demonstrate the use of a Shadow Register, to avoid read- write- modify problems
2. A program to demonstrate the use of the '?:' conditional statement in C
3. A program to debounce a switch with a counting algorithm, middle average (olympic average), crawling middle.
4. A reaction time program
5. A program to scan the values of an ADC and analog potentiometer and start a heater if they are different plus output the temperature from the sensor (LM335) to a 7 segment display with 2 digits, with PIC16F690.
6. A program to compare a voltage with the internal reference of 0.6V of PIC16F690 and start a LED through the built-in comparator 2.

I am working on unions, OPTION, STATUS register, testing flags. When I can I will start working with interfaces like SPI, I2C, Bluetooth, USB, wireless and wired communication?

What do you think I can find currently and normally? What should I look for?

I also know Assembly a bit, I was making programs in Assembly 5-7 years ago with Motorola 68HC11.
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Yo! I love learning and technology! I just do not have experience so do not be angry if I ask a stupid question about a detail! From so much to remember sometimes I forget the details in order to remember the big problems!

[temtronic]

Hmm..I've pondered this post since the reason I got into PICS 25+ years ago was Moto wouldn't sell me 68HC11s unless on the 'blue' list. Sounds like you have basic 'entry level' skills and need to expand them, as you already know. As for employment I have no idea, been 'retired' for 20+ years. I still have a million buck idea for a PIC, simple but useful. The problem with any 'micro' based product is 'market share'. Once your's is out there, anyone can easily copy/clone it, sell for 10cents less and your market is gone.
I almost took a job at local college teaching micros using PICs as the platform but then it was a union job...so I refused their real nice offer.

Maybe others who make a living PICking will reply, it is a valid question...

Jay

[Arakel]

Sorry for not making things clear! What's the name of the job? So far I am looking for embedded programmer, junior and entry level of course. However I see a billion requirements that I don't know such as: embedded Linux programming, Autosar, Java, Python, Java cards, and I will add more later.

Motorola is a military company. The Motorola 6800 was so classified that even today they do not reveal what's inside. We only guess by the functions.

What do you suggest that I continue learning with? At the moment I learn pretty much the same for baseline, mid range and enhanced mid range pics. What else do I need to know in order to become an embedded programmer and to deal with microprocessor systems, both software and hardware?
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Yo! I love learning and technology! I just do not have experience so do not be angry if I ask a stupid question about a detail! From so much to remember sometimes I forget the details in order to remember the big problems!

[newguy]

You're starting to learn the basics, and that's good. I'd recommend that you get familiar with various sensors (analog and digital), the common bus formats like SPI, I2C, CAN, RS232 and RS485, which naturally leads into multi-processor systems. When you have multiple processors doing different things and communicating with each other, finding the root cause of a bug/failure can be challenging.

Next I'd recommend dipping your toes into the world of DSP (filtering), and start to explore that.

I've not mentioned other basic things like character LCD modules, some basic graphical LCDs, memory (serial EEPROMs, SD cards, etc) and of course USB. As someone here has mentioned many times, it's way easier to implement USB devices if you just buy an off-the-shelf chip such as the one available from FTDI.

USB then implies that you're talking with a PC, and that opens up a whole new can of worms.

Doing firmware also implies that you're familiar with hardware and can design schematics and lay out PCBs. Again, a whole new can of worms.

Firmware specialists sort of fall into 3 camps (my experience - others may have a different view):
- people who excel at low level embedded coding and nothing else;
- people who deal with low level embedded coding and PC side coding (either windows-based or Linux or both); and
- people who excel at low level embedded coding, overall system design, and are also hardware specialists.

The first type of person will do well in a very large company. The second type usually also will do well in a larger company, but opportunities exist at smaller firms. The last type of person can find a niche anywhere but are usually more valued/apt to work at a smaller firm where they're a "jack of all trades".

A large firm with a large suite of products is more prone to "compartmentalization" where someone can find work doing just firmware or just hardware or just PC software but nothing else. A smaller firm pretty much guarantees that you're going to be required to do a little bit of everything simply out of necessity because budgets are smaller and staffing levels are also smaller.

A lot depends on your personality. I hate staring at a computer all day. I like to "get my hands dirty" once in a while. I like soldering, I like using hand tools, I like stripping wire, I like creating schematics, I like laying out boards, I like writing firmware, I like dealing with field support issues.....in short, I like variety. You'll get that sort of freedom at a smaller firm. In a larger organization you're "pigeon-holed" into a more-or-less specialist role where it's the same story, day after day. Some people like that sort of repetition/security but I don't.

I'd recommend that you determine your dream job/position, then start to build your skills to hit that goal. Then tailor your job search to either smaller or larger organizations depending on what you want, but build the necessary skills first. I'm sure you have an idea for something useful that you wish you had but you can't afford or it just doesn't exist. Is that some sort of new device that requires some hardware and some firmware? Is it a computer program or a smartphone app? Is it a piece of hardware that would be extra cool or useful if it talked to a computer or an app?

Use your own need/imagination to build your skills. Use that experience to leverage that first job. Use that first job to build your skills and add new ones you didn't initially imagine. That will then leverage the next position, whether that is at the initial firm or at a new one. And so on. Just remember that the only constant in electronics or technology is change. Those that are open to new ideas and eager to pick up new skills (as you so obviously are) will be involved in tech roles in 10 years' time. Or 20 years. Or more. Be malleable and open to change and you'll thrive. Good luck.

[benoitstjean]

Get your diploma, learn programming, learn electronics, spend time and invest money on your passion. Then apply at various companies and start at the bottom of the food chain - just get your foot in the door. But also, you must stand-out from the rest with your innovations, your skillsets, what you can do that others don't.

There are some like myself and probably lot of people on this forum who have spent countless hours (in my case, before I had children of course) playing with electronics, experimenting and "investing" money in components (I say "investing" rather than "wasting" because I was investing in my future, not wasting it!).

Reading asmboy's post above, he hit the nail bang-on. For myself, I fall in the third camp "low level embedded coding, overall system design, and are also hardware specialists"... and I'm also a "jack-of-all-trades" whether it's for my job or at home (tools, renovations, plumbing etc).

I've been passionate about electronics since the age of 8 and I stuck with that idea all my life and now that's what I do for a living. I am now in my 40's and I have a quite good paying job doing electronics, which includes programming and hardware design, in a big organization.

Good luck and as cheezy as it may sound, follow your dreams and don't let anything get in your way. Be ahead of the pack... I mean, you were the lucky one out of millions to be in this world so do the same with your career!

Ben

[Arakel]

[guy]

Hi Arakel! The fact that you learn CCS C and that you know this forum already puts you one step ahead of others. It's an easy C compiler to learn (it does a lot of things for you which you don't have to worry about) and there are a lot of drivers and libraries. Even USB - you don't have to know everything about it, just use the examples and modify them. It will take you a long way. The chip families you mentioned (base,mid and enhanced mid) will also be enough for a lot of tasks, and as long as you use CCS C you can easily migrate to the PIC18F and even 16-bit devices.

You may focus on different fields - communications, wireless, motor control, sensors and DSP, high power LEDs etc. I agree with benoitstjean - follow whatever interests you.
When I started with PICs I went to an electronics store which also took on projects, introduced myself, and left my phone number. At first they gave me simple timer projects which controlled relays for automation. Later I got more projects, more clients, and have never needed to advertise or 'chase' work. I suppose it has to do with luck, talent, and enjoying what you do.
True, there are numerous software jobs in Java, Python, Android etc. but over there the competition is much more intense and outsourcing to developing countries puts pressure on the salary. Embedded has always been more of a niche - more difficult to master (if you include hardware design, PCB layout, software-hardware debugging etc.) but more 'fun' and less competition.
Good luck!

[Arakel]

I don't believe such stores exist, where I am. But even if they do, they will start with a bluetooth, wireless, usb, smart house that can control everything.
_________________
Yo! I love learning and technology! I just do not have experience so do not be angry if I ask a stupid question about a detail! From so much to remember sometimes I forget the details in order to remember the big problems!

[Gabriel]

I found a niche market in my country that i could automate with a Micro and currently have an army of little bots working for me... its not my main source of income but it will soon be.
I don't market the device, i market the service...like others here have said some chinese sweatshop can probably copy your device in 2 days and sell it for 100 dollars less. Copying a service is a different animal.

Most programming jobs i've seen are for web stuff and company software.
At least in my country, there is no engineering or development going on... i think i started one of the first companies that does.
If you live in the US, then risk it (while you can EI: single, no kids, etc), and try getting into a tech startup.

I'd get a "regular" job, and then start your own thing.
As long as i can, i will never go back to work for THE MAN.

G.
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CCS PCM 5.078 & CCS PCH 5.093

[asmallri]

[Ttelmah]

Dead right. In fact under an NDA, they even let us license the core to include inside a chip we were having made.

[Arakel]

This is what I am trying to do also:

[Arakel]

I post one job requirement section for a C developer:

Requirements:
• Experienced with programming language C, PHP and Shell
• Good knowledge of databases - SQL or Oracle
• Knowledge of Web technologies (HTTP, HTML, XML, JSP/Servlet, JavaScript, SOAP)
• Knowledge of C++ & Python is a big plus
• Advanced English
_________________
Yo! I love learning and technology! I just do not have experience so do not be angry if I ask a stupid question about a detail! From so much to remember sometimes I forget the details in order to remember the big problems!

[RF_Developer]

[newguy]