Propeller and SPIN, endless possibilities
DurbanFlyBoy
Posts: 7
Good-day gentlemen.
As·a professional uP programmer new to object-oriented languages and·SPIN, the possiblities are quickly dawning on me regarding the aforesaid, particularly when combined with the flexibility of the propeller chip.
For example, i can in future make a generic-type processor board that includes the propeller and an FTDI UART (such as the FT232RQ), with a big fat 34=way ribbon connector that carries almost all of my I/O pins, to which I can connect to various forms of "break-out" boards.
With my basic main board, I can either:
a) create a stand-alone-type application, such as a process contoller·with it's own key matrix, display and I/O on a breakout board
b)·make·a device, such as an I/O controller that connects to a Windows application, the USB UART acting as a high-speed data pipe.
In the case of the latter, I can create an object·SPIN file in which user-parameters are written, and using the propellent.dll, can upload the application fresh every time the user changes a parameter, running it only in RAM, with the option to store it in EEPROM. The propeller is the answer to my headaches over the last few years, where in my profession, we have used a plethora of embedded processors, all with their quirks and quidities, but none that offer all-round ease of use and flexibility. I am truly impressed by the possibilities of the propeller and SPIN, and in the not-too-distant future as the·object library grows, it will offer unparalled all-round solutions to a myriad of applictions. Thanks to all those involved, especially to Chip and his team for the foresight and research into a phenomenal·product.
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As·a professional uP programmer new to object-oriented languages and·SPIN, the possiblities are quickly dawning on me regarding the aforesaid, particularly when combined with the flexibility of the propeller chip.
For example, i can in future make a generic-type processor board that includes the propeller and an FTDI UART (such as the FT232RQ), with a big fat 34=way ribbon connector that carries almost all of my I/O pins, to which I can connect to various forms of "break-out" boards.
With my basic main board, I can either:
a) create a stand-alone-type application, such as a process contoller·with it's own key matrix, display and I/O on a breakout board
b)·make·a device, such as an I/O controller that connects to a Windows application, the USB UART acting as a high-speed data pipe.
In the case of the latter, I can create an object·SPIN file in which user-parameters are written, and using the propellent.dll, can upload the application fresh every time the user changes a parameter, running it only in RAM, with the option to store it in EEPROM. The propeller is the answer to my headaches over the last few years, where in my profession, we have used a plethora of embedded processors, all with their quirks and quidities, but none that offer all-round ease of use and flexibility. I am truly impressed by the possibilities of the propeller and SPIN, and in the not-too-distant future as the·object library grows, it will offer unparalled all-round solutions to a myriad of applictions. Thanks to all those involved, especially to Chip and his team for the foresight and research into a phenomenal·product.
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Comments
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--Steve
Propalyzer: Propeller PC Logic Analyzer
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=788230
Leon
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Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
What is a quidity
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- Some mornings I wake up cranky.....but usually I just let him sleep in -
It's not really object-oriented in the commonly understood sense of the term, though. Parallax themselves refer to it as "object-based", which is somewhat different.
Leon
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Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
Post Edited (Leon) : 8/17/2009 8:03:49 PM GMT
Say what you want about how the prop "isn't". No worries. What it is really punches well above it's weight.
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I'm with Leon. SPIN is not an object-oriented language, although it is object-based. Communication comes to being able to relay larger concepts with smaller tokens of meaning. Being object-based has nothing to do with being able to program in an object oriented way, if that is important to you. You can do object-oriented programming in C or x86 MASM, but that doesn't make either an OOPL. I agree that the distinction can be subtle- all the more reason to stick to accurate terms.
Why call the color teal by the name blue? You could argue that teal contains blue, and that some teals may be confused with blue in certain lighting conditions... but why bother?
Only interior designers and perhaps some sales people and advertising agents care....
Not even an artist cares.....an artist does not care what the color is called.....s/he just uses it and
creates a nice painting with it regardless of what it is called.....and s/he would not even care.
I think that SPIN is a·TRUE BLUE....
I just like to use it and for working with the propeller (a microcontroller) it allows me to create nice
"pictures".
Samuel
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With regards to the original poster, I'm not sure I understand what elements he is referring to...· the development environment?· Certainly any of the common platforms can also be used quite easily to create the stand-alone application or I/O controller examples.· There are several variants of these that also offer embedded usb capabilties that would make a 1 chip solution.
Spin looks like it takes the best parts of several languages to provide ease of use with the hardware depth needed for a ucontroller.· It seems heavily C based to me, and as a result I'm not sure that C is really all that much more difficult to use...· If you can learn Spin, you can learn C.
The downside of Spin is it's speed.· If you need to accomplish time intensive tasks, you need to revert to Pasm.
Not a knock against the Prop, but imo the examples in the OP are not the Prop's selling points; any controller can do that, and if you are a professional then I would guess you have decent tools available that should make the development process a productive one.
Welcome!!
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Welcome to the Propeller and forums! The Propeller is extremely flexible!
I refer to it as microcontroller sillypuddy here.
OBC
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Welcome. Indeed, yes, the Propeller is one amazing piece of Engineering with some incredibly flexible application possibilities with minimal external support hardware/software.
What platform (board) did you get and why?
Cheers
HarryE.
I have 2 projects I ve earmarked to introduce the prop, it's a vital issue to port over, I dont know if you guys have heard but it's all over for the SX, received an end of life notification from Parallax a few days ago. Nevertheless, change is sometimes good, this case being no exception.
Regards
Allan