Did you see that !! Arduino Manager
Podion
Posts: 90
I was checking some app's in iTune store and i found this https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/arduino-manager/id535436797?l=fr&mt=12 :thumb:
[video=youtube_share;N0k8FWlXXrY]
What do you think about this?? Should Parallax create a similar app for the Prepeller ??
IMO i think the answer si YES and YES!
It's a cool app whit full of possibility. And I also think that this kind of app would bring new clients and help to learn new people in programmation and demonstrate the capabilities and power of the Propeller chip.
Pleas comment
[video=youtube_share;N0k8FWlXXrY]
What do you think about this?? Should Parallax create a similar app for the Prepeller ??
IMO i think the answer si YES and YES!
It's a cool app whit full of possibility. And I also think that this kind of app would bring new clients and help to learn new people in programmation and demonstrate the capabilities and power of the Propeller chip.
Pleas comment
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Comments
It certainly seems that iOS and Android apps are becoming more and more a part of exploring microcontrollers. For now, I am happily using a wifi link and terminal program on my Android device, but I am sure there are some that prefer a slick GUI.
Meanwhile we can take inspiration from Phi-Pi's in browser oscilloscope for the Propeller (Or any other MCU you want to put at the end of the line). Or msbobots in browser Spin IDE (Search forums for Editor17).
With those as examples anyone can be making whatever widgets they like that work in the browser or Chrome OS and can be used with whatever MCUs they like.
Ok.. Here's the Android version..
After seeing this, I see that I should add knobs and other input devices to my system, which might not be trivial since it involves actual routing and not just sending everything downstream. I'll probably have to steal their interface as well...
If I had the knowledge to do it trust me I would. I think in the near future this kind of app will change haw people see and interact whit microcontrollers.
I dont think people will start to scratch some big spin or C code on this, but it very useful for modification on-the-go and it bring a nice GUI to interact whit your programme... House automation, robots control.... If I had the choice I pic the app on iOS or Android device instead of controlling light scene whit my laptop. It's more convenient ;-)
This was my thought. Whatever the Arduino is sending, the Prop should be able to send as well (and be doing a bunch of other stuff at the same time).
I know it's all the rage to use smart phones and tablets as interfaces, but still prefer to keep as much of the code as possible on the Prop. The Prop can generate some great graphical widgets on a bunch of different monitors. I personally don't see the need of an expensive tablet (particularly since I don't own one).
If I had a tablet, I'm sure my attitude would be different. I'd probably want to use the tablet as a display for a bunch of my Propeller projects.
I still bet the Prop could use the Arduino Manager program. I don't think a separate program needs to be developed for the Prop.
There's several libraries for the Ardiuino that the author of Arduino Manager provides. The Arduino IOSController & variants of the IOSControllerWiFi lib (which provide objects and code for a number of Arduino WiFi, Ethernet & Bluetooth LE shields) rely on "a ton" of lower-level Arduino libraries. As a quick test, I loaded the IOSControllerWiFI library source code into SimpleIDE and started a compile, after adding-in the libArduino Simple Library that was developed by Martin H. for the Propeller. My results were less than successful...
After a number of compile attempts, examining errors and loading of Arduino sources into the project, I was still a long way off from a build of just the IOSControllerWiFi library. I also noticed that when compiling a simple project that uses IOSControlerWiFi within the Arduino IDE, a large binary (> 32K) is created. In fact, you need to specify an Arduino Mega or Galileo class board in order to complete the build within the Arduino IDE. So even if we can get the libraries to build, a project based on these libraries will be very large.
It might be easier just to examine the communication between a tablet and an Arduino to deduce the protocol and replicate that, rather than attempting to build from the provided sources.
dgately
Parallax is all about helping you learn. And regrettably, the consumer electronics market is all about being impressed by what you do not understand.
In general, I am very generic and avoid GUI solutions as they add a lot of programing work that is not needed for the beginner, and beyond.
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For the projects you mention -- house automation, robot control, and so on -- I am very happily using Forth on the Propeller with a wifi link. Instead of having buttons to poke at, I just use keywords.
In Android, my terminal app was a FREE download. And everything got going rather quickly. I have a MR3020 wifi mini-router that is hacked to provide Wifi to the Propeller with good security. (You will need something like that with any similar app).
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In sum, the pretty graphics of a GUI is merely an additional layer of programming of the iOS/Android side that is often unnecessary and demanding of resources that might be needed elsewhere to get the results you want. But I do admit, those that know little and are just starting out tend to buy such apps regardless of how much use they get out of the app.
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I see the original developer has an Android Manager and a Raspberry Pi Manager. I suspect that creating a similar Propeller Manager might upset him. It may be best to ask him to develop a Propeller Manager rather than open up an independent line of development.
There are millions of Arduino users who are not particularly technically knowledgeable. They just want to get something done. Perhaps they are artistic types that want to inject a bit of technolgy into their creations. Perhaps they are professionals in fields other than electronics and computing that just want to make a gadget to help with whatever it is they are doing. Perhaps they are hobbyists who want to have some fun with LEDs , servos, robots etc. I believe we are supposed to call them "Makers" now a days for some odd reason.
All the above was the motivation in creating the Arduino in the first place. Make using an MCU as simple as possible to allow people to get on with what they want to do. They should not have to become massively profficient in programming languages, build systems. electronics etc.
Many of those Arduino users may just love a manager program for their phones and tabs as a way to monitor and control their creations.
The tension is that the Arduino became wildly successful because of it opensource nature. Where as this manager, as far as I can tell, is a closed source offering.
After all, there was programming before there was a GUI, a mouse, and all those windows. People seemed to be able to get things done with merely one font.
Not sure what people really accomplish on an Arduino. But if one doesn't want to learn the technical aspects of microcontrollers, why even bother with an Arduino? It seems a bit muddle minded to me.
Nothing wrong with what Fabrico Bozo has provided. I am just avoiding spending a lot of time on color palette, font specifications, and so on; so that I can devote more time to real issues of control and communications.
Open source innovations will always be exploited by closed source developers. That is just the way of the world.
I'm just vaguely aware that there things like the "Maker Movement" going on out there. A lot of people hungry to add some, light, sounds motion, remote control, whatever to their creation is. The Arduino is cheap and simple and enables them to do just that.
That is just what the Arduino was designed for. Strangely enough the creators of the Arduino itself were inspired by the Parallax BASIC Stamp. The Stamp having been created for much the same reason. The low cost and opensource nature of the Arduino is what caused it to catch on like wild fire. Sadly Parallax were a bit behind that movement.
I'm sure some people will be inspired by the Arduino to investigate MCU's, programming and electronics further. I'm sue many will not, being busy doing whatever else it is they do. I bet there are a lot of young kids today that are totally fascinated by how the Arduino works and will become the engineers of tomorrow. It's all good.
"Fabrico Bozo" Is that a little joke there? I'm sure Fabrizo is not really a bozo.
I am amazed as much as you are with what comes up on the computer screen when I think I am actually making an honest effort to spell correctly. Haven't figured out if it is a perversity of my unconscious, a problem with long distance latency in postings to Parallax, or my internet fairy godmother is really Loki.
Arduinos did finally arrive in Taiwan, along with the Maker publications. But having learned the basics with the BasicStamp2, they never really appealed to me. I do admit I am not mainstream and go my own way.
My main point is that adding a GUI and a general purpose OS to one's projects is a big increase in learning curve. It is convenient to buy an Arduino Manager to avoid that. But the Propeller can easily avoid development of a Propeller Manager and get the same thing done with currently available resources......including your contributions to the WR703 and MR3020 wifi mini router hacks.
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What the Arduino Manager and Raspberry Pi Manager do offer is a touch screen array of buttons for an application. That is handy, and very likable. I'd welcome a Propeller Manager... might even pay $7USD for an Android version.
Still ... Fabrizo Boco is likely to the best bet to get a Propeller Manager quickly to market. Why expect Parallax or someone else to quickly clone his idea?
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I WILL REPEAT...
Since the user needs a wifi or LAN like for a Propeller Manager --- Heater's compiles of OpenWRT for the WR703 or MR3020 mini-router are central to making this work. You can't just adapt the code without providing the Propeller with a communications front-end..
If Parallax should provide anything, I suspect it should be their own wifi, Bluetooth, and LAN interfaced integrated with the Propeller.