BASIC CHIPINO - The Easiest way to get Started Programming

We've made programming the CHIPINO even easier by creating the BASIC CHIPINO Starter Kits. We teamed up with the creators of the PBP3 compiler to produce a low cost kit to get you started with all the pieces you need. We offer it in two forms, CHIPINO and CHIPINO Mini. The simplicity of BASIC with the capability of the CHIPINO all in one low cost package.

CHIPINO Module Starter Kit

If you like the simplicity of the Arduino style plug-in shields then the CHIPINO is for you. The CHIPINO is pin compatible with the Arduino so almost any Arduino compatible shield or the CHIPINO shields from Howtronics.com will plug into CHIPINO. A quick plug in and your hardware is ready for programming.

CHIPINO Mini Starter Kit

The CHIPINO Mini is for those who prefer building everything on a breadboard. The Howtronics.com breadboard modules make it easy to expand your project. Plug in the breadboard module, connect a few jumper wires and your hardware is done ready to be programmed.

PICBASIC PRO 3 Student Version

This is where BASIC CHIPINO really gets easy and powerful. Howtronics and microEngineering Labs have teamed up to create the BASIC CHIPINO. Using the powerful but easy to use PICBASIC PRO 3 (PBP3) Compiler - Student Edition you have access to lots of prewritten libraries that make building a project extremely easy. If you've been using a BASIC Stamp then moving to BASIC CHIPINO is a natural because PICBASIC PRO is written is the same format as BASIC Stamp code but with a lot more prewritten commands for controlling LCDs, I2C, SPI, Analog to Digital, PWM, Hardware PWM and so much more.


The Student Edition is not time limited or command line limited. Its only limited in the number of parts it supports and that includes a great list. The PIC16F886 used in CHIPINO is fully supported in the Student Version. When you are ready to expand, the CHIPINO will accept the PIC18F25K22 and that is also supported by the PBP3 Student Edition. Look at all the commands you now have pre-written for you in the PBP3 library.


Get the full manual here PBP3 Manual which includes:

BASIC Commands
ADCIN
ARRAYREAD
ARRAYWRITE
ASM..ENDASM 
BRANCH
BRANCHL
BUTTON
CALL
CLEAR
CLEARWDT
COUNT
DATA
DEBUG
DEBUGIN
DISABLE
DISABLE DEBUG
DISABLE INTERRUPT
DO..LOOP
DTMFOUT
EEPROM
ENABLE
ENABLE DEBUG
ENABLE INTERRUPT
END
ERASECODE
EXIT
FOR..NEXT
FREQOUT
GOSUB
GOTO
HIGH
HPWM
HSERIN 
HSERIN2
HSEROUT
HSEROUT2
I2CREAD
I2CWRITE
IF..THEN
INPUT
LCDIN
LCDOUT
{LET}
LOOKDOWN
LOOKDOWN2
LOOKUP
LOOKUP2
LOW
NAP
ON DEBUG
ON GOSUB
ON GOTO
ON INTERRUPT
OUTPUT
OWIN
OWOUT
PAUSE
PAUSEUS
PEEK
PEEKCODE
POKE
POKECODE
POT
PULSIN
PULSOUT
PWM
RANDOM
RCTIME
READ
READCODE
REPEAT..UNTIL
RESUME
RETURN
REVERSE
SELECT CASE
SERIN
SERIN2
SEROUT
SEROUT2
SHIFTIN
SHIFTOUT
SLEEP 
SOUND
STOP 
SWAP 
TOGGLE
USBIN
USBINIT
USBOUT
USBSERVICE
WHILE..WEND
WRITE
WRITECODE 
XIN 
Math Operators
Multiplication
Division 
Shift 
ABS
ATN
COS
DCD
DIG
DIV32
HYP
MAX and MIN
NCD 
REV
SIN
SQR
Bitwise Operators
Comparison Operators
Logical Operators 

MicroCode Studio - IDE

Included with the PBP 3 installation is the free version of MicroCode Studio. This Integrated Design Environment (IDE) makes creating the CHIPINO software a breeze. 
The main editor provides full syntax highlighting of your code with context sensitive keyword help and syntax hints. The code explorer allows you to automatically jump to include files, defines, constants, variables, aliases and modifiers, symbols and labels, that are contained within your source code. Full cut, copy, paste and undo is provided, together with search and replace features. 
It also has Compile and Compile Program buttons that can be setup to easily one click compile and program the CHIPINO through the PICkit 2 programmer included with the BASIC CHIPINO Starter Kits.

Setting up BASIC CHIPINO

First Program on BASIC CHIPINO