Programming Prop from the Prop--possibility looks promising
P!-Ro
Posts: 1,189
I've been recently working with PropFORTH but unfortunately I haven't seen a how it could be used in a way that was better than Spin or PASM...until now.
Yesterday I got myself an infrared keyboard and was thinking how it would be nice to use with my robot. I could be standing a couple feet away looking at what I was typing on the monitor and run the code on the robot for quick development. That's when I realized that what I wanted to do was already capable using FORTH!
Looking at the PropFORTH code found here:
http://code.google.com/p/propforth/downloads/detail?name=PropForth3.2%2020100710%20archive.zip&can=2&q
It is easy to tell that most of the code is merely used to communicate with the serial terminal. But, with some modification, it could instead be configured so the output information could go to a second cog running a VGA or RCA display, and the input information could be from a keyboard driver running inside the FORTH cog in the place of the serial communication.
This could totally revolutionize not only programming microcontrollers here in developed countries by not needing a computer to program a robot or an eviromnental sensing project on a mountain, but in developing countries such as Nigeria where there may only be one computer in a town, or people in Chinese communities far away from anything industrial with no power. By not needing a computer, they could be programming a microcontroller to do their bidding on the power of a single rechargeable AA battery and a small solar panel. This would allow them to do much more much cheaper than if you just gave them a computer, because with a microcontroller and maybe a few servos/motors they could be programming themselves a project to do whatever tasks they needed done for them rather than just displaying books off a screen with a computer, something that won't benefit them nearly as much as a board with much higher physical capabilities.
Sorry for the rant, but with so many reasons I'm all in for modifying PropFORTH to be programmable on the prop without a need for a computer, even though I am still a beginner to PASM. Anyone more advanced wish to help me with it? I'm seeing a great possibility for us as a community to create a prop board usable in a 3rd world country, using mctrivia's power boost boards to make 3.3v out of 1 AA, Gadget Gangster micro SD card adapter, and a custom Prop board with a P/2 connection for programming and a large LCD display for reading data. Not to mention plenty of I/O pins for protyping! Then we can ship it off to a third world country and see if they like the prop as much as we do
Anyway I want to try it, anyone with me? I'll be looking at the FORTH code tonight and see if there's any simple way to accept keyboard commands for starters, then I'll move from there to VGA. I'll be slow since I'm inexperienced, but if there's anyone willing to help I'd be greatful. I see too much benefit from this idea not to go through with it, not to mention I'd like to be able to program my robot without a computer :scool:
Yesterday I got myself an infrared keyboard and was thinking how it would be nice to use with my robot. I could be standing a couple feet away looking at what I was typing on the monitor and run the code on the robot for quick development. That's when I realized that what I wanted to do was already capable using FORTH!
Looking at the PropFORTH code found here:
http://code.google.com/p/propforth/downloads/detail?name=PropForth3.2%2020100710%20archive.zip&can=2&q
It is easy to tell that most of the code is merely used to communicate with the serial terminal. But, with some modification, it could instead be configured so the output information could go to a second cog running a VGA or RCA display, and the input information could be from a keyboard driver running inside the FORTH cog in the place of the serial communication.
This could totally revolutionize not only programming microcontrollers here in developed countries by not needing a computer to program a robot or an eviromnental sensing project on a mountain, but in developing countries such as Nigeria where there may only be one computer in a town, or people in Chinese communities far away from anything industrial with no power. By not needing a computer, they could be programming a microcontroller to do their bidding on the power of a single rechargeable AA battery and a small solar panel. This would allow them to do much more much cheaper than if you just gave them a computer, because with a microcontroller and maybe a few servos/motors they could be programming themselves a project to do whatever tasks they needed done for them rather than just displaying books off a screen with a computer, something that won't benefit them nearly as much as a board with much higher physical capabilities.
Sorry for the rant, but with so many reasons I'm all in for modifying PropFORTH to be programmable on the prop without a need for a computer, even though I am still a beginner to PASM. Anyone more advanced wish to help me with it? I'm seeing a great possibility for us as a community to create a prop board usable in a 3rd world country, using mctrivia's power boost boards to make 3.3v out of 1 AA, Gadget Gangster micro SD card adapter, and a custom Prop board with a P/2 connection for programming and a large LCD display for reading data. Not to mention plenty of I/O pins for protyping! Then we can ship it off to a third world country and see if they like the prop as much as we do
Anyway I want to try it, anyone with me? I'll be looking at the FORTH code tonight and see if there's any simple way to accept keyboard commands for starters, then I'll move from there to VGA. I'll be slow since I'm inexperienced, but if there's anyone willing to help I'd be greatful. I see too much benefit from this idea not to go through with it, not to mention I'd like to be able to program my robot without a computer :scool:
Comments
What you have suggested, however, is already possible if you are a SPIN/PASM programmer wanting to take your language on the go.
See here: http://www.parallax.com/Sphinx/tabid/850/Default.aspx
I've used this when I have been isolated from a computer, and although it's primitive controlls, it works great.