Let't get the ball rolling...

Okay, the gang members are now awaiting the delivery of our development board ordered from Futurlec recently... Look up the board details here...

The board uses the PIC18F4550, one of the most powerful PIC with tonnes of features... Very unlikely that one would use all the features on a single project... Nonetheless, it's there when you need it...

While waiting for the board to arrive, do the followings...

1. Download the PIC18F4550 Datasheet from Microchip website... If you have the resources, print it out as reference unless you do not mind flipping pages on your computer...
2. Download MikroC from MikroElektronika for compiler...
   
3. Start making the jumper wires... I'll post some pictures how I intend to make mine...
4. Consider how to make casing for the board...
5. Consider buying LCD display... most likely 16 by 2 characters... Hitachi chipset please... No need for graphic LCD for now...
   

Short technical spec is here... copied from Futurlec...
PIC18F4550 USB Development Board - Technical Data

• Microcontroller: PIC18F4550-I/P
• Main Crystal: 20MHz
• Speed: up to 5MHz
• Processor Language: PIC

Memory
• Program Flash Memory (Internal): 32kBytes
• RAM Memory (Internal): 2048 Bytes
• EEPROM Memory (Internal): 256 Bytes

Input/Ouput
• I/O Points Available: 35
• I/O Points Connection: Standard IDCC Connections

A/D
• A/D Inputs: Yes - 13 Channels
• A/D Accuracy: 10-bit
• A/D Speed: 500Ksps

PWM
• PWM Output Channels: Yes - 2 Channels

Timers
• Timers: Yes - One 8-bit Timer and Three 16-bit Timers

Auxiliary Communication
• RS232 Communication: Yes - 1 Channel
• USB Communication: Yes - 1 Channel
• SPI: Yes - 3-wire SPI Module
• I²C: Yes - with Master/Slave Mode

Board Features
• Pushbuttons: Yes - 4 Tactile Inputs
• LCD Connection: Yes - with Contrast Adjustment
• Indication Leds: Yes - 4 Red LED's
• A/D Inputs: Yes - 4 Adjustable Trimpots
• Speaker: Yes

Ancillary Features
• In-Circuit Programming: Yes
• Power-On Led: Yes - Red
• USB Power-Supply Led: Yes - Yellow
• Regulator Power-Supply Led: Yes - Green
• Program-Run Switch: Yes
• Reset Button: Yes

Power Supply
• Power-Supply: 7 - 12 Vdc

Dimensions
• LxWxH: 155mm x 90mm x 30mm

Parts Supplied
• Included Parts: PIC18F4550 Development Board, USB Download Cable, Download Software, Manual on CD, Examples and Sample Code, Data Sheets on CD.