Catalina Build Options for QuickStart board

wadebrown

I apologize ahead of time for being a Propeller newbie, I have coded in C/C++ using gcc on AVR MCUs and the Imagecraft compiler for the Propeller but this is my first time in a Propeller using Catalina (the Oct 4, 2011 build). My question is what build options do I use for this board. I am using libc, TINY port, and PC serial terminal for my text output are there other options that need to turned on?

I have tried a few simple demos both using text output and LED blinking and I get no response even though there are no errors during the build process or when I download to Hub RAM.

Thanks

wade

Cluso99

Wade: Welcome to the fabulous prop forum and chip.

Unfortunately I cannot really help here. I am sure Ross will chime in soon with the responses you need. In the meantime, I suggest you download the latest Catalina 3.4 (see the this thread for details). It contains a few bug fixes although I doubt any would affect what you are doing.

I did get the PC serial terminal working correctly on my prop board - although there is nothing special about my board as far as this simple exercise is concerned. It may be possible that it is just PST set for the wrong baud. i would try 115,200 then 57,600 and then 9600. If you just place a loop to output a string every 1/2 second you can change the baud on pst and hopefully see the result. The other possibility is that you have the incorrect xtal and pll setup. However, with both of these errors, the led should flash presuming it is slow enough to see. if the flash rate is too fast you will not see it at all.

How did you download? Did you use "payload -e xxxxx" where -e writes to eeprom.

Rayman

wade,
Check out my Catalina install guide:
http://www.rayslogic.com/Propeller/Products/FlashPoint/Catalina/Catalina_InstallGuide.htm

RossH

Hi Wade,

I'm not familiar with the QuickStart board (there are so many boards available now!) but I'm confident that Catalina can be made to work on it (Catalina will work on any Propeller board - but it may require some configuration).

I'll have a look at the QuickStart documents tonight and post a suitable set of configuration options for you to use.

Thanks,

Ross.

Dr_Acula

@Ross, schematic is here http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/sites/default/files/parallax/P8X32AQuickStartSchematicRevA_0.pdf

So basically a bare propeller so I presume that output from a "printf" is going to go back up the serial port?

RossH

Hi Wade,

Enclosed is a set of files to configure Catalina to build programs for the QuickStart board when the CUSTOM platform is specified.

All you need to do is unzip this file in your target folder (e.g. in C:\Program Files\Catalina\target) and then compile a program either by defining the CUSTOM symbol on the command line, or selecting the CUSTOM platform in Code::Blocks.

For instance, in a Catalina Command Line window you might say something like:

cd demos
catalina othello.c -lc -D CUSTOM -D CR_ON_LF
payload othello

Then open up a terminal emulator, select the appropriate Com port (Payload should tell you which port it finds the Propeller on) and set the baud rate to 115200. Enable the terminal and press ENTER - you should see the Othello board displayed.

Note that if you are using the Parallax Serial Terminal (PST), the output looks better if you define the CR_ON_LF symbol when compiling your program (as shown above) and also edit the PST preferences and unselect the option "(10) = Line Feed" on the "functions" tab.

Let me know how you go!

Ross.

wadebrown

Ross,

Sorry for the delayed response but things got in the way. I unzipped and placed the files as instructed and compiled and loaded othello also as instructed and all worked as it should.

Next I will see I can get done with CODEBLOCKS as even though I started my programming and spent a fair amount of time using command line "IDE"'s I much prefer real IDEs.

Thanks,

wade

RossH

wadebrown wrote: »

I unzipped and placed the files as instructed and compiled and loaded othello also as instructed and all worked as it should.

Next I will see I can get done with CODEBLOCKS as even though I started my programming and spent a fair amount of time using command line "IDE"'s I much prefer real IDEs.

Hi Wade,

Great!

You'll find Code::Blocks is a pretty decent IDE.

There is a Catalina Project Wizard to get you up and running with a new program (in Code::Blocks, select File-> New -> Project and double click on the Propeller icon) or there are plenty of existing demo programs (e.g. select File-> Open then navigate to C:\Program Files\Catalina\codeblocks\demos and open the file demos.workspace). In both cases, just make sure you specify the CUSTOM platform, and make sure that either no HMI option is selected, or that the PC option is selected.

Ross.