Program Your Next AVR in BASIC
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Programming most Atmel AVR 8-bit RISC microcontrollers (µC) comes in two flavors: AVR assembly language and, the extremely popular and FREE, C-based open source language, AVR-GCC WinAVR for Windows. This selection might seem restrictive and limiting to a beginning programmer or an individual who has acquired a lot of “code time” working with BASIC Stamp µC from Parallax.

Rest easy all of you BASIC code-busters, MCS Electronics has got you covered. BASCOM-AVR is an incredibly powerful Windows-based BASIC compiler that can help you program AVR µC just as competently as your assembly and C brethren (and sisters, too).

The BASCOM-AVR IDE.

BASCOM IDE

The BASCOM-AVR IDE.

Just like the more popular assembly- and C-based programming environments, BASCOM-AVR generates a sweet, tight HEX code that can be independently uploaded with any USB AVR programmer or directly burned onto an AVR with Atmel’s STK500 and a serial COM port.

Use Atmel Studio 4 IDE for burning your BASCOM-AVR HEX file to your target microcontroller with the USB AVRISP mkII programmer.

BASCOM Burn

Use Atmel Studio 4 IDE for burning your BASCOM-AVR HEX file to your target microcontroller with the USB AVRISP mkII programmer.

NOTE: If you own an AVRISP mkII USB programmer, you can still use BASCOM-AVR for developing your code. Rather than using BASCOM-AVR for programming you µC, however, you will compile a HEX code for your BASIC program, then burn the HEX code into the µC with Atmel’s Studio 4 IDE.

One of the most appreciated features found in BASCOM-AVR is the powerful list of special commands. These commands are like customized linked libraries that provide a set of simple, straightforward comprehendible commands for streamlining the management of some common hardware interfaces.

Quickly configure the AVR ports.

BASCOM Confguration

Quickly configure the AVR ports.

The special commands featured in BASCOM-AVR will make you look like a pro programmer with these touchy hardware fixtures:

  • Serial LCDs
  • I2C products
  • 1Wire components
  • PC keyboard
  • Software UART
  • SPI connections
  • Sony IR control commands

BASCOM-AVR costs $96 and can be locally purchased from either BiPOM Electronics or Rhombus. Alternatively, you can download a DEMO version directly from MCS Electronics.

If you’d like to see what BASCOM-AVR can do for your next AVR µC project, stay tuned to PopSci.com. An upcoming project on PopSci.com will use BASCOM-AVR for managing an Olimex AVR-MT development board equipped with an ATtiny2313. Now that’ll be fun.