I'm guessing the Super Chuffer would be a real nightmare without micro controllers! Can't even imagine where to start with ICs? And I bet the the PCB would be about as large as an old 1960s color TV set if one ever did get a somewhat working prototype. That would be a challenge, at least I think it would. The 4 wire signals would be much easier with an Arduino too, at least for me.
I can do a little Arduino programming (with a lot of looking up syntax, libraries, etc.), but I am also somewhat fascinated with the IC chip methods and creating circuits with them. I'd like to learn more about all that too, probably the reason for my obsession with the traffic light circuits. C programming takes me quite a while too, but on the brighter side there is a ton of ready made programs for the Arduino stuff. The size of the Arduino boards are a problem though, can't shrink them up like you can a PCB of one's own design.
I think you are using the PIC chips for some of your projects, which seem to have endless possibilities. I have never tried any PICs so they are all new to me. From what I have seen, if I'm understanding correctly, they are programmed in assembly? If so, that's definitely over my head. I've seen a PIC Basic programming language advertised for them. Don't know much about that either, but it sounds like something more my speed. Then there is the vast selection of different PIC chips available and figuring out which one to use where...I'm lost there too.
I'm not quite up snuff for putting things on both sides of the PCB like you do either, but maybe I can get to that someday as well. The way you shrink down the size if your PCBs is a very nice feature. This is all great fun and I really enjoy puttering around with all this stuff. Maybe I will take a closer look at the PIC and Arduino type stuff? I would also like to someday check into the PIC Basic programming as I used to use Quick Basic and Microsoft Basic Pro many years ago. I used to enjoy doing that too, then Windows came along and ruined all that. I fell way behind and also kind of lost interest with Visual Basic. To me it just didn't have the same fun factor for some reason.
