[jgrahamc]

Look at Arduino. The entire design and software is open source. You can buy or make.

[rugoso]

thanks jgc

ive heard a lot about the arduino, i think im gonna get one or build one

but i also want to be able to build my own circuits, to learn to program the microcontrollers, so i can get closer to the idea of designing the hardware for my software

[tlrobinson]

Arduino is also based on Atmel microcontrollers (kind of like BASIC Stamps are based on PICs)