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Propeller and microMite SPIN & BASIC ability in a self-contained system. — Parallax Forums

Propeller and microMite SPIN & BASIC ability in a self-contained system.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
edited 2014-07-30 21:42 in Propeller 1
I've been playing with the microMite controller (a PIC loaded with BASIC from "Down Under")

It's accessable via VT100 terminal and Xmodem commands for file load/save.

I've been working on a little Spin code to make the Propeller act as a terminal. The intent is to take advantage of the strengths of both chips together.

Here's a moderately working version

http://propellerpowered.com/forum/index.php?topic=574.msg3473#new

Jeff

Comments

  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-05-25 21:06
    Thought I'd post an update here..

    I'm another 40 or so hours along on this project.. Functionality is at a level to make the project interesting if you've got a Micromite and a Propeller on your desk.
    At this point, I've replicated everything that I had with the PMC project except audio (it's next). It's a full MM.BASIC running along side a Propeller for audio & video.

    Each chip is doing what it is best at...

    http://propellerpowered.com/forum/index.php?topic=574.msg3510#msg3510

    Jeff
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-05-31 11:18
    Just a quick update:

    Project thread "OP" has been updated with complete details on how this project works.
    http://propellerpowered.com/forum/index.php?topic=574.0

    We continue to press forward on this, adding features and removing bugs.

    Those who aren't interested in binding the Propeller to the Micromite as we've done may find the software useful for other "Propeller Backpack" type configurations and are welcome to the code.

    Jeff
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-07 17:21
    Just a feature update...

    Additional commands and more continue to be added. I've also converted all Propeller communication outside of plain text to I2C, thus making it an I2C slave.

    Jeff
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-07 19:56
    What kind of setup are you using to prototype this? Have you made a PCB yet or are you using something like an Activity Board with this chip plugged into its breadboard? how easy is it to hook up the MicroMite?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-07 20:14
    I'm using a 2013 PMC interconnected with a Micromite on a 400pin breadboard.

    I'll probably move the whole thing onto a cogsled until I get a chance to have a board done for this.

    It's an easy setup.

    Jeff
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-08 04:38
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    I'm using a 2013 PMC interconnected with a Micromite on a 400pin breadboard.

    I'll probably move the whole thing onto a cogsled until I get a chance to have a board done for this.

    It's an easy setup.

    Jeff
    Thanks Jeff. I ordered a couple of the Micromite chips to play with. Even if I find I don't like using the Basic, I can always reprogram the PIC32 with Javascript or Lisp or something like that. :-)

    By the way, when I was on the Micromite web site I notice that they also have another PIC32 chip that is preprogrammed to be a ASCII Video Terminal. I guess with the two you can have a complete standalone computer. I don't see anything indicating if the terminal has any graphics capability though.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-08 22:18
    They actually created a type of mini computer, something called the Maximite. It's a lot like the PMC in many ways, (or maybe the PMC was like it)

    By using the Propeller as a Keyboard I/O, and video/audio output device, I'm only limited by the objects that I load into the memory of the Propeller from SD.

    That makes this project pretty limitless...

    Jeff
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-11 17:47
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    They actually created a type of mini computer, something called the Maximite. It's a lot like the PMC in many ways, (or maybe the PMC was like it)

    By using the Propeller as a Keyboard I/O, and video/audio output device, I'm only limited by the objects that I load into the memory of the Propeller from SD.

    That makes this project pretty limitless...

    Jeff
    Yes, one nice thing about the Propeller is it has a fair amount of RAM compared with most 8 bit MCUs so you can execute code from RAM rather than flash allowing for overlays. Even though the ATmega328p in an Arduino has 32k of flash, it only has 2k of SRAM so you're limited to that amount of interpreted code whereas you can have a full 32k with the Propeller and a COG-resident VM.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-12 17:06
    Just another project update..

    Thanks to Michael Park, the Propeller/Micromite project can now also EDIT and compile Spin (.spi) files as well.

    BASIC and SPIN capability in a single self-contained microcontroller configuraiton. Sweetness.

    Jeff
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-12 18:35
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    Just another project update..

    Thanks to Michael Park, the Propeller/Micromite project can now also EDIT and compile Spin (.spi) files as well.

    BASIC and SPIN capability in a single self-contained microcontroller configuraiton. Sweetness.

    Jeff
    Does the Spin compiler run on the PIC32 or on the Propeller?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-12 19:35
    It runs on the Propeller side. In this situation, I'm using the Micromite as an EDITOR for Sphinx.
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-12 20:17
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    It runs on the Propeller side. In this situation, I'm using the Micromite as an EDITOR for Sphinx.
    If you go to a slightly bigger ARM instead of the PIC32 you could probably run Micromite Basic (it's open source isn't it?) and also OpenSpin.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-13 06:59
    You're right, I could, but then I'd loose the retro-style instant boot and probably have to spend more than $4.00. :)
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-13 20:14
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    You're right, I could, but then I'd loose the retro-style instant boot and probably have to spend more than $4.00. :)
    I don't think you'd need to lose the instant boot as long as you use either a hand-crafted stdio library to talk directly to the hardware like you'd do on a Propeller or maybe an RTOS. Just stay away from Linux if you want quick boot! :-)
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-14 23:06
    That's my only gripe with using systems like Rpi to suppliment the Propeller. It's takes forever to get the ARM/Linux unit up and running compared to a Microcontroller.

    Call me old fashion, but I like systems that are ready to use in 2 seconds. :)
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-17 08:20
    This is a little bit of cross-posting from Propellerpowered, but I though some of you might get a charge out of this..

    Rick and I had been joking about connecting yet another micro to the Micromite/Propeller combo to take advantage of the built in EDITOR while still maintaining a self-contained system that doesn't require a PC.

    Well, we had a chance to get together last night (local DIY meet), so naturally, the topic of tossing a Propeller with FORTH into the mix came up.

    Picture this... (Or just check out the pictures. )

    We've got a Propeller loaded with basically a terminal program with a bunch of extra I2C controls, connected to the Micromite (just think of it as a $4.00 EDITOR with onboard BASIC) running a simple terminal running in BASIC, connected to a Terra Prop (5 Propellers) running FORTH.

    It worked...

    The screenshot shows the madness involved here.. :)

    The hopefull end result will be the ability to edit FORTH files and send them to FORTH without the need of a PC.

    More on this thread: http://propellerpowered.com/forum/index.php?topic=584.0
    super-term-hw.jpg
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    super-term-sw.jpg
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  • KeithEKeithE Posts: 957
    edited 2014-06-17 11:01
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    That's my only gripe with using systems like Rpi to suppliment the Propeller. It's takes forever to get the ARM/Linux unit up and running compared to a Microcontroller.

    Call me old fashion, but I like systems that are ready to use in 2 seconds. :)

    You can get it to boot quite quickly. Here's one demo:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fjfqz6FxC8

    Also I think that NOOBs is powered by linux via buildroot. That boots up pretty quickly from what I recall.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-19 16:45
    I finally got a chance to record some videos of the project in action...

    Here's part 1
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-19 18:42
    Part 2:
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-19 20:05
    Nice videos! Did you have to change the firmware in the Micromite to do any of this or are you just running the stock firmware that comes with the chip?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-19 20:07
    Nope.. It's running stock 4.5c (current version) -- I thought yesterday I might have to jump from stock, but I was able to get things working without doing so.

    Jeff
  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    edited 2014-06-19 20:10
    Oldbitcollector (Jeff) wrote: »
    Nope.. It's running stock 4.5c (current version) -- I thought yesterday I might have to jump from stock, but I was able to get things working without doing so.

    Jeff
    I bought a couple of the Micromite chips but haven't had a chance to hook them up yet. Looks pretty easy though. Thanks for describing your project!
  • RsadeikaRsadeika Posts: 3,837
    edited 2014-06-20 09:30
    I just watched the videos, interesting project, very good videos. I also decided to visit Geoff's Projects, and read about the Maximite. Is your end goal, to produce something like a Maximite, with a Propeller onboard? I was looking for some docs on the MMbasic, but it seems like could not find them, just want too see how powerful the basic really is.

    Ray
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-06-20 14:36
    @Ray,

    There a "Manual" link on the first page of the thread. All of the MMBASIC commands are listed.

    I don't think creating a Maximite was really ever my goal. I love working with the Propeller, and this is a good upgrade to my existing Pocket Mini Computer project.
    If it happens to be like the Maximite, than that's ok. :) As I pointed out in the vidoes, because the Propeller can load an number of MODEs, meaning which makes it a little more open that the Maximite.

    Jeff
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-07-30 21:42
    I thought the software side of the project could a fun side, not just the 80x30 character display.

    The programming code you'll see is MMBASIC, but it's controlling the Propeller for sprites and tiles, making the Propeller's magic very accessable.
    The Propeller is using the Propeller Graphics Engine. by MaccaSoft.
    I've modified the code to accept the sprite/tile data from ascii files as shown in the video.

    If you can use I2C controlled Propeller VGA graphics & sprites system for your project, you are welcome to the code.

    Jeff
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