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Understanding P2 streamer — Parallax Forums

Understanding P2 streamer

ti85ti85 Posts: 44
in Propeller 2
mov x,#480 'set visible lines
line call #hsync 'do horizontal sync
xcont m_rf,#0 'visible line
djnz x,#line 'another line?

m_rf long $7F080000+640 'visible rlong 8bpp lut


Above is code from the VGA 640x480 8bpp example

I have used the P1 to do VGA in the past, however, I am having a hard time understanding the code listed above. I know the xcont instruction
uses the streamer to output @ the DACs. How does the m_rf setup the streamer and how does the program know the address for the bitmap pixels?

Comments

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754
    Look in the steamer section of the docs to see how m_rf works... There are several streamer modes and this selects the rflong 8bpp lut mode.

    There's a rdfast command before the xcont that tells it where to read from...
  • evanhevanh Posts: 16,029
    Rayman wrote: »
    There's a rdfast command before the xcont that tells it where to read from...
    Yes, to access hubRAM, the streamer makes use of the cog's hubRAM FIFO. Same FIFO that hubexec and RFxxxx/WFxxxx instructions use. So don't try to do both at once.

    Also, SETCMOD and its associated instructions defines how the streamer data gets formatted for output.

  • pilot0315pilot0315 Posts: 913

    could someone please explain what the streamer is?
    The docs do not tell me much.
    Is there a thread about streamers for dummies?
    Thanks

  • TonyB_TonyB_ Posts: 2,195

    @pilot0315 said:
    could someone please explain what the streamer is?
    The docs do not tell me much.
    Is there a thread about streamers for dummies?
    Thanks

    The streamer acts like a DMA controller and simply put can transfer data between hub RAM and pins in the background while the cog is executing instructions. The main streamer section of the doc is quite comprehensive.

  • evanhevanh Posts: 16,029
    edited 2024-11-05 18:10

    That's the "Propeller 2 Silicon Document". It's been the gold reference from the start. Section is just called "STREAMER".

    Also, the Cog's "FIFO" hardware provides the Streamer's hubRAM interface. So reading up on the FIFO is helpful too. Found in section "FAST SEQUENTIAL FIFO INTERFACE".

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754

    The streamer is crazy complex (not sure anybody could figure it out from scratch?) and yet, relatively easy once somebody makes working code to look at...

    Probably a VGA driver is a good place to look for an example of basic operation.

  • evanhevanh Posts: 16,029
    edited 2024-11-05 22:54

    Yes, the reference docs can be unclear on specific sequencing on occasion. One often has to experiment when learning how hardware should be configured. Diagnostic reporting of every detail at every step sometimes. Placing reference markers to know when a particular part of the code is executing. Which can be scope triggering of course.

    And finally, documenting, in the source code, your understanding for later reading. Often it's just personal clarification of what one term in the reference docs may mean.

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754

    seems don't understand it yet either...

    Am using this to set the VGA driver "basepin" into mode settings like this:
    m_rf:=$BF010000 + basepin<<17 + 640 'visible 24bpp as longs

    based on docs saying:

    D/#[31:16]  
0111 dddd eppp 0001

    and eppp like this:

    In every mode, the three %ppp bits in D[22:20] select the pin group, in 8-pin increments, which will be used as outputs or inputs, for up to 32-pin transfers. The selection wraps around:
     %ppp : 000 = select pins 31..0
            001 = select pins 39..8
...

    But, just noticed that Chip's code seems to not be setting ppp and got no idea why it works without it.
    Seems to be fine without though...

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754
    edited 2024-11-06 22:43

    Guess it must be that if using DACs, don't need it. Guess the "every mode" threw me off...

    Nice find for me. Now, can copy Chip and fix the driver basepin inside the assembly driver instead of in the Spin2 code...

  • Wuerfel_21Wuerfel_21 Posts: 5,106

    Yes, the pin field in the streamer CMD only applies to digital in/out.
    Also, the heavens will smite those who use magic hex constants. You want X_DACS_3_2_1_0|X_RFLONG_RGB24 + 640.

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754

    Hmm... Didn't know about those...
    Guess Chip forgot too (from his Anti-Alias line over HDMI example):

    m_bs            long    $70810000 + 4                           'before sync
m_sn            long    $70810000 + 8                           'sync
m_bv            long    $70810000 + 4                           'before visible
m_nv            long    $70810000 + xpix                        'invisible
m_vi            long    $B0860000 + xpix                        'visible (rflong rgb24)
  • roglohrogloh Posts: 5,837

    @Wuerfel_21 said:
    Also, the heavens will smite those who use magic hex constants. You want X_DACS_3_2_1_0|X_RFLONG_RGB24 + 640.

    I agree, now these constants exist and are recognized by PNut and Flexspin it makes really good sense to use them. I've been migrating some of my newer code to use these and while much longer to type they make sense to show what you are doing, also very handy for searching. I know some older code I've done was written before these were documented and is unfortunately still hard coded. Something to try to fix in the next release, whenever that will be.

    m_vi                        long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_VISIBLE                'visible
m_vi2                       long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_VISIBLE                'visible-64 (for last sync line)
m_rf                        long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_VISIBLE                'visible (patched per mode)
m_brdr                      long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON                            'border pixels
m_hubpkt                    long    X_RFLONG_32P_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON 
m_hubpkt2                   long    X_RFLONG_32P_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON | 64
m_imm8                      long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON | 8
m_imm2                      long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON | 2
m_hfp                       long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_FP - 8 - 2             'front porch before sync
m_hbp                       long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_BP - 2                 'back porch before visible on blank line
m_hbp2                      long    X_IMM_1X32_4DAC8 | X_PINS_ON + H_BP - 8 - 4             'back porch before video guard band
  • pilot0315pilot0315 Posts: 913

    @evanh
    @Rayman
    @TonyB_

    Thank you all and every body else. Looks like a good read and thanks for the understanding that
    the info is not obvious to someone starting from scratch.
    I will probably have questions later.
    The suggestion of a VGA driver? Is there one or something that is easy to follow with comments that explains
    hopefully each step of the code to make it easy to read?
    Again thanks.
    Martin

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754
    edited 2024-11-13 23:55

    The experimental Spin2 code generator can make one. Maybe easy to use?

    Should be able to find with search..

    Might be able to find with search for SimpleVga as well, not sure…

    But nothing is really simple about the streamer…

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754

    Here's a version that should work, just change the basepin to match your setup.

    But, now see can remove all the "basepin<<17" stuff at the beginning as not really needed.
    Have to revise this so don't need to modify the assembly before starting up the driver...

    zip
    zip
    VGA_Simple1b - Archive [Date 2024.11.14 Time 09.17].zip
    145K
  • pilot0315pilot0315 Posts: 913

    @TonyB_
    Thank you. I am looking that up.
    Martin

  • RaymanRayman Posts: 14,754

    Cleaned up VGA code. Much simpler now...

    zip
    zip
    VGA_Simple1c - Archive [Date 2024.11.18 Time 12.33].zip
    144K
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