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For ARM begineers: How easy is the mBed? — Parallax Forums

For ARM begineers: How easy is the mBed?

John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
edited 2011-02-05 20:51 in General Discussion
Hello there,

I just seen some mbed kits in Sparkfun - how is the learning curves on these things? From what I read, they require an internet connection for the compiler, and there is lack of debugging systems.

I've seen some code examples and they are pretty good. However, is there anything I should look further more before I purchase those kits? Such as those interrupt latencies?

Thanks. :)

Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-02-04 02:13
    The mbed is very easy to use, the software development environment is Cloud-based and the C variant is similar to that on the Arduino. Support is excellent. Interrupts work the same as on any other ARM Cortex chip and don't have any problems.
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2011-02-04 02:48
    Thanks Leon for the tips.

    Actually I'm asking on behalf of my mechanical engineer graduate friend of mine - he kinda worried about the complexity of the ARM system. And he only knew C, and that is from the half-semester course during his undergraduate years.

    I will also be using this for myself as I wanted to test the RTOS and some tough stuff like FFT.

    Are those instructions per clock cycle, or it's like the Microchip's Freq/4 ones? :)

    p.s: How about the LPC Xpresso? I've seen that in Farnell/RS but I don't know the development environment. Are these similar to the mbed?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-02-04 02:55
    Most instructions are single-cycle.

    It doesn't actually use an RTOS.

    I've got a couple of LPCXpressos as well. They are cheaper, but harder to use as you need to program in standard C. The IDE includes a debugger.
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2011-02-04 04:31
    Leon wrote: »
    Most instructions are single-cycle.

    It doesn't actually use an RTOS.

    I've got a couple of LPCXpressos as well. They are cheaper, but harder to use as you need to program in standard C. The IDE includes a debugger.

    Ooh I see.

    While I have the STM32, the three compilers for this one were confusing - I could compile, but "burning the code" (or program) inside isn't all present! I have to press the "debug" for it to program, and then it launches the debug area.

    Could that LPCXpresso or the mbed provide a more comfortable interface during developing the system (write program, compile, and then program into microcontroller) ? It's a bit of a trouble to fumble inside a compiler without any adequate documentation. :)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2011-02-04 04:57
    They both make development and downloading very easy.

    For other ARM development I use Rowley CrossWorks with their CrossConnect JTAG unit, quite expensive but worth it. I've got one of the STM32 Discovery boards, and CrossWorks can be used with that which is nice because I prefer their IDE to the three "official" ones. I haven't really done anything with it, though.

    I forgot to mention that the LPCXpresso is upwards pin-compatible with the mbed (it has more pins), and both can use the Embedded Artists base boards. I've got the low-cost one. Cool Components makes a nice board for the mbed which brings things like Ethernet and USB out to connectors.
  • K2K2 Posts: 693
    edited 2011-02-04 07:24
    John,

    I love the LPCXpresso boards and the Code_Red IDE. You can't go wrong here.
  • John A. ZoidbergJohn A. Zoidberg Posts: 514
    edited 2011-02-05 07:12
    K2 wrote: »
    John,

    I love the LPCXpresso boards and the Code_Red IDE. You can't go wrong here.

    Oh I see. I hope it is, because I gonna order one of these later. Is the LPCXpresso something like the Arduino also, apart from the mbed?

    I just fumbled at these STM32 compilers the whole morning and can't get anything fruitful out of this. Maybe I might need some more time to explore. :D
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-02-05 20:51
    Here's an article that was linked on the mbed forums, that describes how to get started using the LPCXpresso IDE with an mbed: http://blog.suspended-chord.info/?c=23
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