http://www.controlconcepts.net Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:06:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.controlconcepts.net/control-system-programming/time-non-proprietary-courses-control-system-programming-possibly-cts-p/#comment-39 Matt Smith. modMACRO Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:06:25 +0000 http://www.controlconcepts.net/?p=489#comment-39 I agree with nearly everything you said Jason, but I do believe that all languages have common ties and similarities based on the fundamentals of programming. From time-tested, conventional languages like C and VB, to less common and more specific languages like the ladder logic used in PLC's or Crestron's symbolic language of SIMPL Windows. There are always basic logic, math, and sometimes even lexical fundamentals that nearly all languages share. For example, an "and" is the same for all languages. It has multiple inputs and one output, and all inputs must be true for the output to be true. Given these common ties, we've built <a href="http://www.brainboxfoundation.org/" title="Brainbox Foundation" rel="nofollow">Brainbox Foundation</a> to offer knowledge-based exams and provide certifications for <a href="http://www.brainboxfoundation.org/certification/cavp_pf10.php" rel="nofollow">Programming Fundamentals</a>, <a href="http://www.brainboxfoundation.org/certification/cavp_cstf10.php" rel="nofollow">Control System Troubleshooting Fundamentals</a> and a few others. While it makes perfect sense for AMX and Crestron to offer dedicated training and certification, it also makes sense for more generalized programming certifications to play an important role in pro AV. I agree with nearly everything you said Jason, but I do believe that all languages have common ties and similarities based on the fundamentals of programming. From time-tested, conventional languages like C and VB, to less common and more specific languages like the ladder logic used in PLC’s or Crestron’s symbolic language of SIMPL Windows. There are always basic logic, math, and sometimes even lexical fundamentals that nearly all languages share. For example, an “and” is the same for all languages. It has multiple inputs and one output, and all inputs must be true for the output to be true. Given these common ties, we’ve built Brainbox Foundation to offer knowledge-based exams and provide certifications for Programming Fundamentals, Control System Troubleshooting Fundamentals and a few others. While it makes perfect sense for AMX and Crestron to offer dedicated training and certification, it also makes sense for more generalized programming certifications to play an important role in pro AV.

]]> http://www.controlconcepts.net/control-system-programming/time-non-proprietary-courses-control-system-programming-possibly-cts-p/#comment-38 Jason Allgood Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:36:54 +0000 http://www.controlconcepts.net/?p=489#comment-38 While I could see the benefit of having a few more AV Programmers out there, the differences between say AMX, Crestron, and Extron are really too great to take a standardized approach to it. That is why AMX and Crestron each offer their own suite of classes to teach you how to program their control systems. If you want to learn good fundamentals of programming, you could take a basics programming course at your local community college or perhaps even read a good book about it. Will that make you a good AMX or Crestron programmer? Probably not. Will it help you have a better fundamental understanding of what happens in a program? Probably so. Learning the nuances of any particular language or even the syntax or program structure of a specific manufacturer's device control is likely going to remain highly specialized in that you would still need direct training from that company's training staff. Just my opinion. While I could see the benefit of having a few more AV Programmers out there, the differences between say AMX, Crestron, and Extron are really too great to take a standardized approach to it. That is why AMX and Crestron each offer their own suite of classes to teach you how to program their control systems. If you want to learn good fundamentals of programming, you could take a basics programming course at your local community college or perhaps even read a good book about it. Will that make you a good AMX or Crestron programmer? Probably not. Will it help you have a better fundamental understanding of what happens in a program? Probably so. Learning the nuances of any particular language or even the syntax or program structure of a specific manufacturer’s device control is likely going to remain highly specialized in that you would still need direct training from that company’s training staff. Just my opinion.

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