GCBASIC documentation
Primer

ADC: Analogue to digital converter.

Negative power supply: Reference to the common point of the circuit power supply, called circuit ground.

Alias: An alternative name assigned to a pre-existing entity.

Array: A variable able to hold a list of whole numbers, where each element may be a Byte, Word, Integer, or Long. See Variable Types.

ASCII: Acronym for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is a code for the representation of English characters as numbers.

Assembler: PC software application that converts assembly language into machine language.

Binary: Numeric system with base 2, in which there are only two possible values for each digit, 0 and 1.

Bit: The smallest element of computer memory. It is a single digit in a binary number (0 or 1). Bit is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

Bitwise: Dealing with bits and binary states instead of numbers or logic.

Byte: An 8-bit variable, value from 0 to 255 (2^8-1). Is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

Boolean: Related to a combinatorial system designed by George Boole, which combines propositions with the logical operators AND, OR, and NOT.

DC: Direct current.

Machine cycle: Oscillator frequency / 4, for PIC (do not forget the PLL where present).

Code: The memory area in a PIC MCU or AVR that contains the program code.

Comment: Reminder notes placed in the program.

Compiler: PC software application that converts a high-level language like BASIC into assembly language. In this guide, "Compiler" refers to GCBASIC.

Compile-Time: Acts during compilation, and is not executed as a command when the program is running on the microcontroller.

Constant: A name that stands for a value defined in the program. The value is substituted for the name when the program is compiled and assembled. It is not stored in RAM and cannot be changed during program execution.

D: Digital.

Data Space: A memory space in a PIC or AVR that is intended for the storage of values (EEPROM memory on chip). Data is accessible in GCBASIC using the EpRead and EpWrite commands for reading and writing.

Dw: Referring to a button or actions for the variation of any value, intended as "decrease".

Debug: Used to locate errors, to solve problems encountered when the program is run.

Decimal: Numerical system with base 10, composed of 10 digits from 0 to 9 inclusive.

Device programmer: A tool that writes the code in machine language into the PIC or AVR microcontroller.

Directive: An instruction intended for the compiler or assembler. It is not a command or a compiler statement.

Embedded System: A device controlled by a program, able to independently perform even complex functions, communicate with other similar devices and different architectures, with the personal computer, with a local network, and directly via the web.

EPROM: Erasable programmable read only memory.

EEPROM: A type of memory that stores data even in the absence of voltage, and can be deleted and rewritten about 100,000 times.

Expression: A variable, constant, or combination that represents a stored or calculated value.

Firmware: A program compiled and assembled, suitable to be loaded into the program memory of a programmable device.

Fosc: Oscillator frequency.

f.s.: Full scale.

Hex: Extension of the assembled file.

IDE: Integrated development environment, a software environment that acts as a code editor and controls the various programming tools used to implement software development.

Set: Write, in a register or variable, the condition required by the function to be performed.

I/O: Input/output.

Integer: A 16-bit signed variable, whose value varies from -32768 to 32767. Is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

Interrupt: The use of a predefined signal or condition that interrupts normal execution, in favor of a special procedure with high priority.

Kbit/s: One thousand bits per second.

Keywords: Reserved words for GCBASIC.

Label: A word that marks a position in a program.

Least-significant: In reference to binary numbers, a bit or group of bits that includes the rightmost bit or bit group, when a number is written in binary.

Assembly language: The programming language that corresponds most closely with machine language codes.

Voltage levels: In this guide, we refer to TTL levels, so about 0 volts for the low level and about 5 volts, or the Vcc of the microcontroller, for the high level.

Level 0: Equivalent to the low level.

Level 1: Equivalent to the high level.

High level: Presence of voltage, referring to the particular signal being discussed.

Low level: No voltage, voltage close to zero.

Long: A numeric entity composed of 32 binary bits, value from 0 to 4294967295 (2^32-1). Is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

FLASH MEMORY: Non-volatile memory, electrically rewritable numerous times, also called flash/ROM.

Microchip: Company that produces PIC microcontrollers, now also AVR.

Mips: Mega instructions per second.

ms: Milliseconds.

Modifier: A keyword that changes the interpretation or behavior associated with a command or variable that is written before or after the modifier.

Most-significant: In reference to binary numbers, the bit or group of bits that includes the bit that indicates the maximum power of two. The leftmost bit or group of bits when a number is written in binary.

Nibble: A 4-bit binary quantity, often used to refer to the 4 most significant or least significant bits of an 8-bit byte. A single hexadecimal digit represents a binary nibble. It is not a variable type in GCBASIC.

ns: Nanoseconds.

NC: Not connected, or normally closed (depending on context).

Overflow: The event that occurs when a value in a variable is increased beyond the capacity of the variable type, resulting in an incorrect result.

PC or pc: Program counter.

Port: Microcontroller port.

Porta: Port A.

Portb: Port B.

Portc: Port C.

Portd: Port D.

Porte: Port E.

Pos or pos: Postscaler.

Ps or ps: Prescaler.

Programmer: You. The person who writes the program.

RAM: The memory area in a PIC MCU that is used to contain the variables. Access to RAM is faster than other memory areas; RAM values are lost when the power is turned off.

Register: An 8-bit memory location that performs a special function in a microcontroller. Registers (Microchip calls them SFRs) are integrated in the microcontroller, and their functions are described in the technical data sheet published for the device.

ROM: Read Only Memory (read-only memory, can only be written once).

Run-time: Executed by the microcontroller when the program is running.

Save to context: Save and restore, in the context of the interrupt, important variables in the SFR registers.

SFR: Special function register. Able to represent or process negative and positive numbers.

String: Able to hold numbers, letters, and symbols. Is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

TMR or tmr: Timer.

TWI: I2C bus.

Two’s complement: A system that allows negative numbers to be represented in binary.

Typecasting: Specifying a type of variable for the compiler.

Tp: Test point.

Up: Referred to a button or actions to change any value, intended as "increase".

Underflow: The event that occurs when a value in an unsigned variable decreases below zero (a negative number), or when a variable is decreased below the limit value in a negative sense, resulting in an incorrect result.

Unsigned: Only able to represent or hold positive numbers. Negative numbers are not valid in unsigned variables.

Variable: A name that stands for a value that is stored in RAM and can be read and modified during program execution.

Word: A numeric entity composed of 16 binary bits. Value from 0 to 65535 (2^16-1). Is also a type of variable in GCBASIC.

V/I: Voltage/current.

us or µs: Microseconds.

See Also: