Purpose

I created the BASIC and PIC ASM Project to share some of my code and experiences using PowerBASIC v.3x for DOS and the PIC Microcontroller.

Since 1996 I have been dabbling with DOS BASICs (QuickBASIC then PowerBASIC v.3.1). As a hobbyist, very few projects ever reach maturity (some reach completion). However, along the way, I have written some neat libraries, and I enjoy the challenge of writing a good library that is well documented and versatile.

I began college in 1997 and pursued an Electrical Engineering Degree from Georgia Tech. When I got out, I continued to play with electronics, though I work as an Electrical Engineer at a power distribution utility (to be honest, there is less technological toying in engineering than there is economic evaluation, after all economical decisions insure our paychecks). Most of my toying with circuits have been surrounding a few projects you can find in the Hardware section of this site.

I first learned PIC Assembly language (using MPLAB from Microchip) in college, in an Electrical Engineering Course in 2002. I didn't have time to fully embrace the art of assembly language programming, but I learned enough to get me started. Since that time, I have made a hobby out of programming PIC microcontrollers in assembly. I have heard many debates on microcontroller programming between using C and Assembly. Personally, C seems overkill for a microcontroller, and since I am not as fluent in C as I should be, I can code Assembly faster. It seems, however that I have always worked faster on course work (or paid work) than on hobbyist endeavors that are simply due to my own interest in the subject (my wife may disagree). Sometimes, I am amazed by the time that has past since my version/revision date in some code (or even Hardware, if I stamped a date) that I am working on. I digress, but perhaps this helps you understand the purpose of this site:

• To share bits of code, libraries, and projects as free license software and hardware for other hobbyists, students, and interested people.

• To document the code and hardware projects for general use (even my own) and share that documentation with the public.

Terms and Conditions

I present the information on this website in hopes that it will be useful, but WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO THE USABILITY OR FITNESS of the information. Further, I WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES relating to your use or inability to use the information.

You agree not to download or use the information in any state or country that does not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages.

If you do not agree to the terms above, do not download or use the information presented on this website. Downloading or using the information on this website implies that you agree to the terms of no warranty and the limitation of liability as well as any applicable software licenses and hardware design conditions.

Licenses

I suppose that I am apprehensive, but I see a few problems with spilling out information over the web. First, people will hold the author liable for the information on their site. Second, some people will misuse the information on the site (utilize information provided freely to make a profit while granting no rights to the original owner, or use the information for some malicious purpose). Third, some people will alter information but take no credit for their own changes (change things and redistribute with only the original author's name attached) or give no credit to the original author (change things and redistribute without original author's name attached).

So, I have to protect myself while I share information with the public. Therefore, all software on this site is covered under free software licenses, more precisely the GNU General Public License or the GNU Lesser General Public License.

By downloading the software, you agree to the terms of the licenses, and understand that the software is offered without warrantee. You agree not to download or use the software in any state or country that does not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages.

Hardware Design Terms and Conditions

Hardware designs (including schematics, instructions, and techniques) are presented in hopes that they will be useful and under the following conditions:

• By downloading or using the hardware design, you accept the conditions below. If you do not agree, you should not download or use the hardware design.

• You are given permission to use the hardware design without royalty.

• You may redistribute the hardware designs provided that you keep the author and copyright information intact and that you distribute the hardware design with an unmodified copy of these terms and conditions.

• You may modify the hardware designs, but a prominent notice including the author, the date, and a brief description of the modification should accompany any modification. You may not remove references to these terms and conditions or any copyright notices.

• If you distribute a device created using the hardware design, you must distribute the hardware design under these terms and conditions.

• The copyright holders are under no obligation to provide maintenance, updates, or technical support for the hardware design.

  BECAUSE THE HARDWARE DESIGN IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE DESIGN, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE DESIGN "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE DESIGN IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE DESIGN PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

  IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE THE DESIGN AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE DESIGN (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THIS MATERIAL TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER SYSTEMS OR SOFTWARE), EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

You agree not to download or use the hardware designs or related software in any state or country that does not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages.

The ideas for the hardware licensing are taken from the GNU General Pubic license for software. The agreement not to download in any state or country that does not allow exclusion or limitation of liability was copied from Metachip (Australia) Pty. Ltd. (Bitscope).

Privacy Statement

This privacy statement is given in addition to Tripod's privacy statement.

I collect traffic information for this site to enhance the website (order links, highlight certain information, develop new subject matter etc). The information contains no personal or identifiable information. I will not use the information to try to identify or track any one person. I employ CGI and Cookies to count visitors to each page. The Cookies simply count repeat visits. Each visit is entered into a log, and the log entry has the following information:

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By browsing this website, you are giving me permission to collect this information about your visit. Keep in mind that any website can get this information about their web traffic and often websites use this to personalize their site. However, if you feel that repeat visit information is too revealing, I encourage you to disable your cookies while visiting.

I hope that the information here is useful to those who find it. However, I make no guarantees as to the usability of the information presented. © Copyright 2005 by Jonathan Weaver Page last updated 2006 September 1 [Contact Me] [About this site][Terms and Conditions] [Privacy Statement]