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A linux compatible propeller loader that doesn't timeout on slower systems? — Parallax Forums

A linux compatible propeller loader that doesn't timeout on slower systems?

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
edited 2014-07-29 15:37 in Propeller 1
I'm in need for a linux compatible propeller loader that doesn't Timeout on slower systems (dual core, etc)

linux.bstl works about 30% of the time without the Propeller resetting before the program is loaded and verified.
Loader.py works about 50% of the time without the Propeller resetting before the program is loaded and displays a "Timeout Error."

Is there a newer loader I could compile for sending binaries to the Propeller?

Thanks
Jeff

Comments

  • Cluso99Cluso99 Posts: 18,069
    edited 2014-07-06 19:09
    Jeff, can you load a small program reliably?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-07-06 19:18
    Smaller programs don't error out quite as often as larger programs.
  • RossHRossH Posts: 5,462
    edited 2014-07-06 19:45
    Smaller programs don't error out quite as often as larger programs.

    Hi Jeff,

    You could try Catalina's loader (payload). I find it quite reliable on Linux. However, on slow systems you may have to increase the timeout, and/or use the Linux nice command.

    The following example shows both of these:
    nice -10 payload -t 1000 program.binary
    

    You may also want to just try using the nice command with whatever loader you currently use - that may be enough.

    Ross.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-07-26 21:38
    Just a follow up on this issue. For anyone searching for it and discovering this thread via Google.

    Roadster came up with a clever way to use a PIC16f1455 circuit to replace a Propplug. I'd tested his prototype, but put it away as I don't normally use the USB-B cables his circuit used.
    On a whim, I pulled it back out and tested it multiple times. Success! No more timeouts! I've asked him to post details about this circuit here if the need comes up for others.
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2014-07-26 22:05
    What about PropGCC's propeller-load?
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-07-26 22:07
    The Timeout issue was consistant throughout all of the Propeller loaders I tried.

    I've seen this issue in the past with Pentium 4 laptops I was playing with a couple years ago. I suspect it has to do with system speed.
    The strange part is that the Raspberry Pi (900mhz) never exibited this behavior using propeller-load.
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-07-29 15:01
    I just noticed this thread. How slow is a 'slow' system? I've never seen timeouts with bst (nor my own homewritten loader) on my variable-speed 0.8GHz - 1.2GHz Pentium M laptop. I can't remember where that one fits in relative to the Pentium 4. Maybe the M was more like an i586? The Pentium III was way down in the low hundreds MHz or so IIRC.

    The PIC16f1455 variant is very interesting.

    -Tor
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2014-07-29 15:37
    This is an older core-duo dell. 2.4ghz. I've seen this same issue in the past with some 700mhz laptops I was playing with a couple years ago.

    This little PIC16f1455 interface has made me very productive on this machine today. Not a single timeout.
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