New C library - testers required

[Webbot]

Cristi - thanx for the feedback and kind words.....

The main issue is getting my head around the architecture of different chips. Its not just changing the port handling as you have noted but also: how to configure timers (for the clock, PWM, software UARTs, software servos etc etc), as well as other hardware related things like hardware uarts, I2C, SPI, ADC. The list is quite big. On top of all that I don't have any of the boards (yes - I started with the $50 robot tutorial myself a few years ago). So the code library will be hit quite hard. Project Designer - less so - other than the code generation part of it.

I don't have any of the boards so, at a minimum, I need an existing IDE that allows me to debug/simulate my code so that I can check things where precise timings is important. I say simulate coz I cant afford to buy JTAG on-chip debugging stuff for all of the combinations.

Add to that the 'Webbot Studio' IDE I am creating. This means sourcing compilers and hardware/software programmer code - both of which need to be 'free' for me to bundle them into a single download. Then multiply that by different host operating systems: Windoze, Unix, 32 bit vs 64 bit, Mac(?) etc etc. The new Studio version will, at least, allow people to submit their boards as well as sensors to a download site so that others can have access - I've almost designed this - but it will mean that these are treated like plug-ins and will work with Project Designer etc. The caveat being that the author will need to know something about stuff like XML and/or XSLT. But the aim is to allow the community to expand the existing AVR version.

There just ain't enough hours to spare - especially since I started a job 3 weeks ago and the weekends just seem to evaporate. Hence being slower to reply to forum posts!

If someone is willing to pay me to work on this full time, so I can give up the day job, then I'm up for it !

[Cristi_Neagu]

Cristi - thanx for the feedback and kind words.....

No worries. You do good work.

The main issue is getting my head around the architecture of different chips. Its not just changing the port handling as you have noted but also: how to configure timers (for the clock, PWM, software UARTs, software servos etc etc), as well as other hardware related things like hardware uarts, I2C, SPI, ADC. The list is quite big. On top of all that I don't have any of the boards (yes - I started with the $50 robot tutorial myself a few years ago). So the code library will be hit quite hard. Project Designer - less so - other than the code generation part of it.

I figured as much. I do have to admit that things seem pretty different when you cross over to the ARM side. It's not impossible, but it does take time, especially if you're designing a library of functions while learning how to program the thing.

I don't have any of the boards so, at a minimum, I need an existing IDE that allows me to debug/simulate my code so that I can check things where precise timings is important. I say simulate coz I cant afford to buy JTAG on-chip debugging stuff for all of the combinations.

Then you might want to check out Keil's IDE for ARM: http://www.keil.com/arm/mdk.asp. It has a pretty capable simulator, complete with serial windows, disassembly and, more importantly, logic analyzer. There is a free version available, limited to maximum 32kB of code, but that should be enough for some basic stuff, I guess. I also understand that ARM code is supposed to be more compact than comparable 16bit code.

Also, if you're ever looking for a board to start from, Futurlec has some interesting choices, right down in the $20-$30 area, comparable to the Axon (albeit with 5 times as much processing power, but lacking the great library and community support). And, yes, I know you western people have an aversion for Futurlec, but they worked out OK for me in the past.

Add to that the 'Webbot Studio' IDE I am creating. This means sourcing compilers and hardware/software programmer code - both of which need to be 'free' for me to bundle them into a single download. Then multiply that by different host operating systems: Windoze, Unix, 32 bit vs 64 bit, Mac(?) etc etc. The new Studio version will, at least, allow people to submit their boards as well as sensors to a download site so that others can have access - I've almost designed this - but it will mean that these are treated like plug-ins and will work with Project Designer etc. The caveat being that the author will need to know something about stuff like XML and/or XSLT. But the aim is to allow the community to expand the existing AVR version.

There just ain't enough hours to spare - especially since I started a job 3 weeks ago and the weekends just seem to evaporate. Hence being slower to reply to forum posts!

If someone is willing to pay me to work on this full time, so I can give up the day job, then I'm up for it !

What can I say... the whole community is waiting to see what you come up with, and it sounds great

I admit that I'd really want to see an ARM version of WebbotLib, and I don't think I'm the only one. But I do know that once you start something, you got to finish it. So we guys can wait.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the IDE, and, after that, who knows, you might want to check out some ARM MCUs Till then, keep up the great work

Thanks.

[Webbot]

New release of WebbotLib Version 2.09.  See http://webbot.org.uk/iPoint/35.page.

Fixed bug in HD44780 display when using 8 bit data bus

The library now compiles in GCC 4.7.0 although the supplied libraries are still compiled via GCC 4.3.3 (WinAVR-20100110). This is largely due to some errors in GCC 4.7.0 that I have reported to gnu. However: those of you who have reported compile errors in version > 4.3.3 should now be able to compile - but don't moan to me about any issues if you do so! To find which version of the compiler you are using then at a command prompt type in:

Code: [Select]

avr-gcc --version
You will need to make sure that you have downloaded the latest Project Designer and re-generate your projects (standard practice).

NB If you download the latest Project Designer then you will also need to use this version of the library.