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Propeller = wow! — Parallax Forums

Propeller = wow!

Curtis BrooksCurtis Brooks Posts: 38
edited 2010-07-30 16:16 in Propeller 1
I've been using Parallax products for a while but until today, did not have any interest in using the Propeller chip. I purchased the Demo kit a while ago when it was on sale but never got around to doing anything with it. Part of the reason being that I had already invested in PicBasic Pro and MBasic which meant most of my development was done on PICs. I've always used the BS2 but never wanted to commit it to a project because of the expense. Besides, I'd already invested over $600+ into basic compilers and reasoned that PIC microcontrollers are the way to go because of their cheaper cost. Next, I purchased the book, "Programming and Customizing the Multicore Propeller Microcontroller," but only thumbed through the book somewhat intimidated by SPIN.

I've developed all kinds of projects with the PIC and happy with them, until I started developing my reflow toaster oven project. I completed the project but, I'm not happy with the way I had to implement the timing routines for each of the stages.

So, after constantly reading the forums (daily), and seeing all of the great projects that are being developed on the Propeller, I decided to dust off the Demo board, grab my book, and start learning. I'm still in chapter 2 but, once I started the projects on using the cogs, all I could say is WOW! The Propeller is exactly what I need and at a reasonable price for the chips. I'm hooked and it will be just a matter of time before I can port my reflow project over to the Propeller. With the use of the cogs I can run the timing routines separate from the main routines.

Thanks Parallax and community for making this easy,
Curtis

Comments

  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2010-07-28 20:29
    Curtis,

    You're preaching to the choir here.· I started with the BS2 myself but once I started with the propeller all my BS2 stuff has been sitting in a box unused.

    I often read articles in electronics magazines (Servo, Nut & Volts, etc.) where the authors wish to add some feature to their device but the new feature messed up the timing on the rest of the code (made servos jitter, etc.).· I want to yell at them "Use a Propeller!"··Recently a lot of the authors have smartened up and do use the Propeller.

    I suppose if you want to mass produce your gizmo you'd need to consider other microcontrollers, but for one off designs, you can't beat a Prop.
    As I look around me I can count a dozen Propellers I'm using in projects under various stages of development.· The Propeller has made my job so much easier, faster and enjoyable.· I'm a chemist and use the Propeller in data logging and instrument control and in some custom made equipment.· It's a lot of fun!

    Duane
  • Curtis BrooksCurtis Brooks Posts: 38
    edited 2010-07-28 20:47
    Yep, you're right, I'm preaching to the choir. I'm now a convert for projects that require multiple processes at the same time. As you stated, depending on the application, the propeller is a better fit in the end instead of implementing multi-pic schemes. I'm taking it in stride and will post my project once I can port it over to the propeller.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2010-07-28 21:24
    Curtis,
    I didn't mean anything negative with "preaching to the choir."· I just think it's kind of a funny expression.· We (at least I do) love to hear how wonderful the Propeller is.· I'm always interested in other's Propeller projects so please share yours when you're ready.
    Duane
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2010-07-28 21:30
    @Curtis,

    Welcome to the group! You'll have a great time with your new Propeller. There is a TON of great stuff you will be able to do!

    OBC

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    Propeller Feature Projects: PropellerPowered.com
    Visit the: PROPELLERPOWERED SIG forum kindly hosted by Savage Circuits.
  • Curtis BrooksCurtis Brooks Posts: 38
    edited 2010-07-28 21:36
    Duane Degn said...
    Curtis,

    I didn't mean anything negative with "preaching to the choir." I just think it's kind of a funny expression. We (at least I do) love to hear how wonderful the Propeller is. I'm always interested in other's Propeller projects so please share yours when you're ready.

    Duane

    Oh, I took no offense to what you said. In fact, I totally understand and agree with your statement. Let's call it enlightenment as I have realized the power and benefit of the Propeller over other architectures. I'm on chapter 3 of the book now and don't know why I was ever intimidated by Spin.
  • Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
    edited 2010-07-28 21:46
    Hi Curtis,

    In case you haven't found them already, there's a Spin Programming Tutorial built into the Propeller Help (v12.6 or higher) that is designed for the Propeller Demo Board.

    Also bundled with the Help are the searchable, taqgged PDF versions of the Propeller Manual and the Propeller Education Kit Labs book. The PE Kit Labs are written for its own breadboard platform, but most of the experiments should be easily portable and the code discussions useful to you.

    The sample code for the Spin Tutorial and PE Kit Labs are included as well.

    I hope these resources can help you get comfortable with Spin more quickly. Have fun!

    -Steph
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2010-07-29 00:31
    Welcome Curtis. I understand your reaction -- you might notice my user title (between my username and avatar to the left)
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2010-07-29 00:55
    He's hooked!

    For me, I never really understood the benefit of multiple cogs till I started coding. Things you just can't do on other processors like background collection of serial data from multiple sources. Or having a servo output that doesn't glitch when the main program is doing some intense processing. Or a keyboard buffer that never misses a keystroke because it is always running. Or an entire emulation of a 1980s computer on one chip.

    Wait till you find the Aladdin's cave of code in the Obex...obex.parallax.com/

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    www.smarthome.viviti.com/propeller
  • william chanwilliam chan Posts: 1,326
    edited 2010-07-29 01:15
    Hi Steph,

    I can't find the SPIN Programming Tutorial you mentioned on the Start Menu.
    Where is it located?

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  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2010-07-29 01:37
    William,

    Click on "Help" from inside the Propeller Tool (I'm using version 1.2.6) and the sixth item is "Propeller Education Kit (pdf)." I've read through most (if not all) of the "labs" and found them extreamely helpful.

    Duane
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2010-07-29 01:57
    Welcome Curtis! Have fun...

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    Whit+


    "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney
  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2010-07-29 02:50
    Welcome Curtis. We have found amazing things that we can do with the propeller. It's amazing that those not familiar with the prop keep asking for interrupts when you just do not need them on the prop. As Drac says, you don't lose characters when you have an intensive task in the main routine.

    However, we really have not exploited the prop to it's full potential of multiprocessing. We just use the cogs to perform intelligent peripheral functions and take this code out of the main program. This simplifies the main program considerably which means less bugs, and faster processing of course since the other cogs are running in parallel.

    One big use for cog(s) is the video output, VGA or TV (composite video). And once you add an SD or microSD socket you can run programs from the SD card.

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    Links to other interesting threads:

    · Home of the MultiBladeProps: TriBlade,·RamBlade,·SixBlade, website
    · Single Board Computer:·3 Propeller ICs·and a·TriBladeProp board (ZiCog Z80 Emulator)
    · Prop Tools under Development or Completed (Index)
    · Emulators: CPUs Z80 etc; Micros Altair etc;· Terminals·VT100 etc; (Index) ZiCog (Z80) , MoCog (6809)·
    · Prop OS: SphinxOS·, PropDos , PropCmd··· Search the Propeller forums·(uses advanced Google search)
    My cruising website is: ·www.bluemagic.biz·· MultiBlade Props: www.cluso.bluemagic.biz
  • BaggersBaggers Posts: 3,019
    edited 2010-07-29 11:32
    Welcome to the choir Curtis,

    As you are now well aware, the propeller is exactly what you thought, WOW! once you prop you can't stop, it's just so addictive and versatile [noparse];)[/noparse]

    Most of all have fun, that's what it's all about.

    Baggers.

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    http://www.propgfx.co.uk/forum/·home of the PropGFX Lite

    ·
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,935
    edited 2010-07-29 14:05
    Welcome Curtis! I am also a BS2 turned Prop junkie. In less than 6 months of weekend fiddling with the Propeller, I was able to make my Reverse Geo-Cache box by taking advantage of the objects that are available. I love having 80% of my code work done for me in objects. I just need to code them to work together for me and my work is done....gotta love that.

    I have also been thinking of making a Propeller based reflow oven controller and have started collecting notes on what would set it apart from any other toaster oven controller. I have discovered a "gap" that exists with all toaster oven reflow controllers that I think I can fill with the Propeller. If so, I will have my first project that will end up as an article in a magazine.

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    Andrew Williams
    WBA Consulting
    PowerTwig Dual Output Power Supply Module
    My Prop projects: Reverse Geo-Cache Box, Custom Metronome, Micro Plunge Logger
  • Curtis BrooksCurtis Brooks Posts: 38
    edited 2010-07-29 21:11
    WBA Consulting said...
    Welcome Curtis! I am also a BS2 turned Prop junkie. In less than 6 months of weekend fiddling with the Propeller, I was able to make my Reverse Geo-Cache box by taking advantage of the objects that are available. I love having 80% of my code work done for me in objects. I just need to code them to work together for me and my work is done....gotta love that.

    I have also been thinking of making a Propeller based reflow oven controller and have started collecting notes on what would set it apart from any other toaster oven controller. I have discovered a "gap" that exists with all toaster oven reflow controllers that I think I can fill with the Propeller. If so, I will have my first project that will end up as an article in a magazine.

    That is exactly what I'm thinking about doing.· I would love to present it as an article once completed.· I've seen a number of articles on reflow ovens with the most complete presented in Elektor magazine but, I've yet to see one done with a propeller.· The cogs and graphics ability is what got me interested in porting the project over to the propeller.
  • RavenkallenRavenkallen Posts: 1,057
    edited 2010-07-29 23:59
    Yes, i must say moving up from the Picaxe to the prop was like moving up from a bi-plane to a fighter jet. Nobody has anything on the Propeller.

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    Propeller + Picaxe = Romeo & Juliet
  • laser-vectorlaser-vector Posts: 118
    edited 2010-07-30 03:26
    yes, definitely a WOW! im from the BS2 word too and i dont ever see myself going back. i used to use LabView and a BS2 to interface with it, but now i see very little reason for either... (well maybe a little labview still as it does have its charms). but seriously the propellers are brilliant and i cant seem to stop playing around with them. all i want to do right now is learn how to write spin and thats all ive been doing for the last week and a half. im already light years ahead of where i though id be in a little under two weeks and im not backing down yet.

    anyways, something i thought was kind of funny: i have been writing so much spin lately that when i just posted some code here on the forums i realized i made a mistake, so i had to edit the post and twice ive pressed F10 instead of clicking on the "submit" button!!!
  • ManAtWorkManAtWork Posts: 2,178
    edited 2010-07-30 15:49
    Curtis said...
    until I started developing my reflow toaster oven project. I completed the project but, I'm not happy with the way I had to implement the timing routines for each of the stages
    Hello Curtis,

    can you describe your project a bit? Why do you need several stages? I have a reflow oven with 5 heater stages but it is a conveyor type. I thought the toster oven heat up the whole PCB at once.

    Best reagrds
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2010-07-30 16:16
    Welcome Curtis!! Have a good time man. It's a great chip, and we've a good crowd here. Enjoy!!

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