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* Event: Manchester Free Software's October Meeting * Talk: PIC, Arduino and FPGA with Free Software * Speaker: Michael Dorrington
* Date: Tuesday, 20th October 2015 (3rd Tuesday of the month) * Start time: 19:00 * Finish time: 20:30 (and then on for drinks)
* Location: Madlab. (Manchester Digital Laboratory). - http://madlab.org.uk/ * Address: 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester. M4 1HN. - Opposite "Common" on Edge Street, Northern Quarter. - http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/53.48413/-2.23639
== Details ==
The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.
Every meeting we start with an opportunity for informal key signing. For an explanation of what this is about see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_signing_party
The main part of the meeting will be a talk.
The talk will be on the PIC, Arduino, AVR and FPGA. These are electronic devices that are often programmed to do a specific task. The workflow is a program is written to do the task in a language/form that then needs to be converted to the binary form that the device accepts (even assembler is assembled into machine code). After this binary has been produced it then needs to uploaded to the device. Additionally, the device itself might require an alterable software bootloader to be installed on it so that it then accept programs. The talk will investigate each device type as to whether it has the required Free Software tools.
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIC_microcontroller * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmel_AVR * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field-programmable_gate_array
If you have experience of programming PICs, Arduinos, AVRs or FPGAs with Free Software then please consider giving a lightning talk at the meeting.
== After-meeting ==
The meeting will be followed by informal discussion and socialising in the Terrace (which is next door to Madlab). There are soft drinks available and there is no pressure to consume alcohol.
== Location ==
The meeting will take place at the usual venue of Madlab, details above.
== Transport ==
=== Parking ===
Around the venue there are parking meter bays that become zero cost after 8pm on Tuesday so you will have to pay up until then and the maximum stay is 2 hours BUT MAKE SURE YOU VERIFY ALL THIS on parking.
There are paid parking lots around the venue, they are marked by a blue P in this OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365. Most of those parking lots are owned by NCP http://www.ncp.co.uk/.
If you can’t decide otherwise then park in Manchester Arndale http://www.manchesterarndale.com/directions.aspx.
=== Public Transport ===
Manchester Victoria (MCV) train station, Shudehill tram and bus station, and Manchester Piccadilly bus station are all fairly close to Madlab, see OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365.
Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train station and Manchester Central Coach Station are not too far away either.
== More Information ==
Information about Manchester Free Software can be found on the Manchester Free Software pages on LibrePlanet https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Manchester.
Regards, Mike. MFS Chair.