Raspberry Pi teases finished Gertboard I/O extender, revs creative engines
jdolecki
Posts: 726
i/o board for the Rasberry Pi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/08/raspberry-pi-teases-finished-gertboard-i-o-extender/
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/08/raspberry-pi-teases-finished-gertboard-i-o-extender/
Comments
Now that we have Propeller dev tools running on the Pi I want to those kind of boards using Propellers.
Nice board, Gert was really smart going with the Arduino. It automatically gave the Raspberry automatic access to the Arduino user community which previously felt threatened by the Raspy. Now they get exposure to Linux, ARM and the rest of the goodies.
Win, win. That's how the game is played.
All those hundreds of thousands of Pi users can get introduced to the wonders of the Propeller and Parallax.
Having the Arduino guys attracted to the Pi via a Gert board may be good. They are just the kind of people that might appriciate a Propeller having seen the limits of the AVR.
To that end I have been spending more time than I should packageing propgcc and simpleide for the Raspi. It is working very well so far.
They swapped PIC for AVR, but same package, so that is not much effort. No Debug on-board ?
What is stranger, is the shift from SMD LED resistors, to SIP networks.
They seem to be pushing this as an expensive 'kit' @ £30 (!), but there are still many SMD parts present ?
The problem with a SIP, is if you want to make one pin high impedance, you simply lift the SMD part, when it is element #3 in a network, that is much harder....
It does not look like this stacks on the RaspPi ?
So, better value is surely something like a Prop QuickStart, or this new offering for $17, from TI,
http://www.ti.com/tool/launchxl-f28027
which does include Debug, even Opto-Isolated Debug.
I want to see a "Propeller Pi" board that sits on top and carries a Prop.
A Propeller Pi I/O board would be fairly simple to make, but what features would you like? Another thread?
I'll make it if no one else does although I doubt finding an eager/competitive volunteer would be a problem considering the number of RPi units sold.
Is there a published dimensions spec? I haven't found it. Not having one is a little scary.
If a enterprising Prop user wants a piece of that action, they'll have to do more than roll out a just a board or using a existing one and a bare bones GCC. That means a development environment that mirrors the Arduino to a degree, good manual aimed at newbies and teenagers with a truck load of worked out examples. It wouldn't be hard to adapt current Parallax literature for this part. A site dedicated to helping said users as well. Can be a blog.
If you are into designing a "Propeller Pi" board that is fantastic.
Two things it needs: An RTC because the Pi does not have one, a Propeller of course.
There is already a thread bouncing these ideas around.
@rod1963
Pay attention, we already have a Prop IDE as simple as the Arduido's. SimpleIDE by Jazzed. Works fine on the Pi and allows development in GCC or Spin.
The docs and other support is a big other problem but we are already far along the road.
To reiterate: "I'll make it if no one else does ...."
Other than the fact that neither of my wireless USB keyboard/mouse combos are working well with my RPi :frown:
Just having a C compiler with a IDE isn't enough. You're gonna need a library of easy to use set of virtual peripherals as well. Along with a user manual that targets newbies and Arduino users with plenty of worked out examples that are specific to the Prop board. The same way mbed got people interested in ARM micro-controllers. They put out a superior software system that targeted novices and did a good job.
In short, respect the Raspberry community, don't roll a out uber geek board that appeals to handful of Prop heads and can only be found by contacting a certain guru poster on a full moon. Put out a polished product with real documentation that newbies can learn from and gets a good review from the Raspberry community. Remember that's your customer base, not a dozen or so Prop heads who need something else.
Some of our friends inside of Parallax are working on the Propeller solution now.
It will be revealed in time with that Parallax special sauce.
SimpleIDE with SPIN and PropellerGCC figure prominently.
I totally agree. A board on its own is not enough.
But the SimpleIde works for Spin so I hope all the existing support for Spin on the Propeller can be used. That is to say all the educational materials Parallax has, all the objects in OBEX etc etc.
If that is not enough existing material I don't know what can help.
C on the Propeller is a whole new ball game so I don't know where that goes in this picture.
I don't care actually. I want an ARM + Prop. It's been a dream for years and now it is very possible with little effort and low cost. If anyone else likes it all the better:)
Yes! Count me in....
Prop al la mode . Pi Al la mode ..
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?141469-SimpleIDE-for-Raspberry-Pi-Raspian-update-v0.8.4&p=1117008&viewfull=1#post1117008
So, in addition to RTC, what is required?
SMT or t/hole?
Indeed.
Is there a single thread where the features can be sorted? If not can you start one?
Maybe there is more than one board. What about ADC's, etc.... ?
Heater mentions RTC ... even that will require some kind of software/interface.
Having a reference point for software would be just as important as the board.
And what about RPi linux libraries?
Maybe a Propeller PI "social group" would be useful?
I'm often frustrated trying to find things in the forum - would a social group help?
Thanks,
--Steve
The RTC is kind of on its own. I believe there are drivers for some RTC chips over i2c for the Pi so it is connected to the Pi not the Prop.
I'm all for simple here. Break out the I/O and thats it.
Have you got any info relating to the type of RTC required?