Lefty, that is exactly the way I learned. I got/get comparatively little from what I read relative to the Arduino. I however do have a Renassas low power Dev Kit, a STM32 dev kit and one of those Motorola MSP430 dev kits, I was hoping to learn the language from the Arduino so as to have an "easy" jump start to a more "complete" language set. Instead I fear I''ve just painted myself into an interesting corner, A corner nevertheless.
What of the "New" Arduino... my understanding so far is that it will support a more complete language set, certainly a different programming environment than an Uno Or a Mega (An UNO on steroids?). What import will the "Xmega" chips have on this scenario and is there any thought of comparability from the new "Arduino" to the products that exist now. What of the IDE, 1.01 is in some ways better BUT it still lacks a great deal.
All in all it will be an entertaining year but I don't see spending my time on anything as crippled as the Arduino. It is my impression that the Arduino was intended more as a teaser to get the young interested in computer science... however the money spent on the Arduino isn't trivial and for the most part IMO not the best investment a youngster could make. Only the bare essential peripherals are really re-usable and for a lot of them, why bother because with a better MCU the parts become as they were before the Arduino Craze,,, Stagnant Surplus with little market. Who would want to pay $139.00 for a 4.3" 4D Systems GLCD when the real full sized item is available for pennies on the dollar as NOS today. It is only the market that has placed any value on the junk we buy today and when a new market jumps up there will be a NEW Gold Rush... The Gold Rushing from our pockets.
Then too there are the things like the Raspberry Pi. There were a lot of people I should think that now regret poking fun at that device... Not because it has any merit but because of the Money Potential involved...
It will be for me more what I cam do with a more versatile device. The Pi unfortunately and it's educational potential will always get second billing...
While I realize that my learning time isn't entirely wasted... Its a mighty limited intro into a complex language and little of what I learn is truly portable or really useful when applied to any of the "Bigger and newer" processors and their hardware/language sets. Witness the Basic Stamps... GREAT for recreation But hardly a package that EVER became popular because of the Electronics Learning end... Same here with Arduino.
I routinely run into people who would rather use an 18 pin IC to replace 2 transistors... Mainly because the package doesn't appear to be as difficult to use as the two parts... Never mind that it might have 6 other inputs that must be dealt with... It seems to be the learning or at least this is my experience in answering questions in General Electronics that comes so hard. Given a schematic diagram and the reasons why the method is easier... 70% of them will opt for an IC rather than do simple things like learn Ohm's Law.... Code engineers are a set apart from Electronics engineers.
Well Another Day in Paradise... Is upon us.
Doc