Getting Started Tips

Getting Started Tips

First, you need to get a Propeller Chip!

I recommend the "Demo" board, if you have the $$.

	This has all the connectors and components for USB, VGA, TV (via RCA connector), audio, mouse, keyboard, and power.
	Has a solderless breadboard area for easy prototyping
	The onboard microphone, digitized by sigma-delta 1-bit ADC using 2 pins is also interesting.

A very cost effective alternative is the "Proto" board (but you'll need a soldering iron!).

	Comes with just power connector. But, if you get the "Accessories Kit" for it, you'll have VGA, keyboard, and mouse.
	It's is very little effort to add TV (I just spliced into an RCA cable and soldered it to the board. You just need 3 resistors to make it work). You can do a similar thing for audio and, in a pinch, for VGA keyboard and mouse.
	One trick here is connecting to the computer. I would recommend the "Prop Plug" for this as there is a place on the Proto board to just plug this in and go. Alternatively, you can build a simple RS232 serial interface using 2 or 3 transistors and a couple resistors and capacitors (available, e.g., at RadioShack). But, several people (including myself!) have had some trouble getting this to work right away...

There are several other options... Look here and here.

You might like the Education Kit for solderless fun.

Next, you need the Propeller Tool to program the Propeller.

Download this here.

The User Manual is included. Click on "Help" on the menu.

I highly recommend you download my bookmarked version here.

You should probably also have a look at the Datasheet.

Now, you need some "Spin" programs to test your setup.

	Here's a simple "Hello World" example using the VGA_Text or TV_text drivers
	Try my "Hello World" examples for more basic TV and VGA drivers.
	Several demos also come with the Propeller Tool.
	Here's a minimal program that toggles output pins.

Finally, you need to write your own programs!

I highly recommend going through the "Toggle" examples in the User Manual.

These examples also come with the Propeller Tool.

Stick with TV_text or VGA_text for simple, basic video display

Somebody has probably done something similar to what you want to do...

Look in the "Object Exchange"

Try searching through the "Forum"

Note: Use http://search.parallax.com to look for things in the forum. Include "F=25" in the search to only get Propeller results.