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SX Basic Compiler — Parallax Forums

SX Basic Compiler

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-10-23 20:18 in General Discussion
At 03:25 PM 10/22/03 -0400, smartdim@a... wrote:
>What I did was made some ribbon cable adapters for the I/O pins that go to a
>larger breadboard and leave the SX on the small board that came with the unit
>sold by Parallax. Once I have the breadboard version working I use
>expresspcb.com and have boards manufacutured.
>
>You will like this uP, but be warned. not nearly as freindly as the basic
>stamp to program. There is a Yahoo group for the SX, same as this group.
>
>Ken

Ken -

For you or anyone else who might be interested, there is a Basic Compiler
available for the SX microprocessor. The trial version is free for the
download.
You can find the web site here:
http://www.sxwiz.com/

The full version is available at an introductory price of $ 89.00 . The
compiler
will run on Win 95, Win 98 and Win XP according to the web site.

Just for the record, I am not affiliated with this product.

Regards,

Bruce Bates

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-22 21:12
    The problem with using compiled languages for the SX, is that it relies on
    critical timing, and real efficiency cannot be achieved with anything but
    assembly language. Because all the peripherals are virtual peripherals, they
    cannot be simply called, they have to be created in assembly. While you can
    get away with using BASIC or C or whatever with the SX, it's never going to
    be as effective or as efficient as using assembly. IMHO, this is one major
    reason Parallax hasn't bothered to support anything but assembly for the SX.
    Even if you do use a high-level language with the SX, you absolutely have to
    understand what's happening on the assembler level, so that you can go back
    and clean up the compiled code. In most cases (except for huge projects),
    it's actually quicker to simply use assembler from the outset.

    - Robert

    Original Message
    From: "Bruce Bates" <bvbates@u...>

    > Ken -
    >
    > For you or anyone else who might be interested, there is a Basic Compiler
    > available for the SX microprocessor. The trial version is free for the
    > download.
    > You can find the web site here:
    > http://www.sxwiz.com/
    >
    > The full version is available at an introductory price of $ 89.00 . The
    > compiler
    > will run on Win 95, Win 98 and Win XP according to the web site.
    >
    > Just for the record, I am not affiliated with this product.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Bruce Bates
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 00:15
    Very interesting.......the main reason I rarely use the basic stamp these
    days is material cost and speed of the processor. As you know, the SX compared
    to
    the Basic stamp is like a formula 1 car verses an old beat up Ford Pinto
    running on 2 cylinders.

    In any event, this basic compiler might be fun to mess with.

    Ken
    The problem with using compiled languages for the SX, is that it relies on
    critical timing, and real efficiency cannot be achieved with anything but
    assembly language. Because all the peripherals are virtual peripherals, they
    cannot be simply called, they have to be created in assembly. While you can
    get away with using BASIC or C or whatever with the SX, it's never going to
    be as effective or as efficient as using assembly. IMHO, this is one major
    reason Parallax hasn't bothered to support anything but assembly for the SX.
    Even if you do use a high-level language with the SX, you absolutely have to
    understand what's happening on the assembler level, so that you can go back
    and clean up the compiled code. In most cases (except for huge projects),
    it's actually quicker to simply use assembler from the outset.

    - Robert


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 00:48
    In a message dated 10/22/2003 4:17:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
    smartdim@a... writes:
    In any event, this basic compiler might be fun to mess with.

    NO IT ISN'T....................I will stick with pure assembly, thanks for
    the tip though.

    Ken


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 15:27
    Wait -- did you try the compiler, and that's
    why you're now saying it isn't fun? Did you
    just change your mind? Why the sudden
    difference? Please let us SX newbies know.


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, smartdim@a... wrote:
    > In a message dated 10/22/2003 4:17:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
    > smartdim@a... writes:
    > In any event, this basic compiler might be fun to mess with.
    >
    > NO IT ISN'T....................I will stick with pure assembly,
    thanks for
    > the tip though.
    >
    > Ken
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 16:10
    Let's take that discussion to the SX List and focus on BASIC Stamps
    here.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    Original Message
    From: Allan Lane [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=fi0fveEzV_42zHpwF8EdwhD50ibfIgclJ6lEqlJZJJs938qgzd9fCN6wkPErp-VGgei0ZO8Q46LG4_TUsikKDVO6TE0]allan.lane@h...[/url
    Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 9:28 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: SX Basic Compiler


    Wait -- did you try the compiler, and that's
    why you're now saying it isn't fun? Did you
    just change your mind? Why the sudden
    difference? Please let us SX newbies know.


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, smartdim@a... wrote:
    > In a message dated 10/22/2003 4:17:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
    > smartdim@a... writes:
    > In any event, this basic compiler might be fun to mess with.
    >
    > NO IT ISN'T....................I will stick with pure assembly,
    thanks for
    > the tip though.
    >
    > Ken
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 17:50
    Wasn't the Pinto the car that exploded on impact?? Or was that the Yugo?

    Sorry guys...A.D.D.

    Original Message
    From: smartdim@a... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=ZwqbT5UmMT0E6nQSgyyzFTd--j6HSFqAiH5w6miSY3iFdC1W2AiWPM-vFN5hPKYBXcvhwSD1xxuT]smartdim@a...[/url
    Sent: October 22, 2003 16:15
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: SX Basic Compiler


    Very interesting.......the main reason I rarely use the basic stamp these
    days is material cost and speed of the processor. As you know, the SX
    compared to
    the Basic stamp is like a formula 1 car verses an old beat up Ford Pinto
    running on 2 cylinders.

    In any event, this basic compiler might be fun to mess with.

    Ken
    The problem with using compiled languages for the SX, is that it relies on
    critical timing, and real efficiency cannot be achieved with anything but
    assembly language. Because all the peripherals are virtual peripherals, they
    cannot be simply called, they have to be created in assembly. While you can
    get away with using BASIC or C or whatever with the SX, it's never going to
    be as effective or as efficient as using assembly. IMHO, this is one major
    reason Parallax hasn't bothered to support anything but assembly for the SX.
    Even if you do use a high-level language with the SX, you absolutely have to
    understand what's happening on the assembler level, so that you can go back
    and clean up the compiled code. In most cases (except for huge projects),
    it's actually quicker to simply use assembler from the outset.

    - Robert


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.


    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 20:05
    I tried the compiler, although probably an error on my part but once I looked
    at the assembled code, it was addressing I/O ports "e" which do not exist on
    an SX 28 AC, arghhh.

    Also, It was very difficult for me to discern the generated assembly code.
    Also, at this point I have a pretty good handle on the SX, writing code in
    assembly using the Parallax software.

    Using the SXWiz software initially looks like I would be starting over at
    square one in order to become proficient as using it....

    As somebody else mentioned, you still need to know (should know) assembly to
    really see what is going on.

    All in all, after a rough learing curve, the SX is not very difficult to use.
    It is just difficult in the begining having come from being spoiled with the
    basic stamp ease of use.
    The basic stamp is still an EXCELLENT device. I typically use it for quick
    prototyping, then will rewrite the program in assembly for the SX, like now
    using this Damn LCD module from Optrex. It is not a true 16 X 1 line, the user
    must treat it as a 2 line device to address the 2nd 8 charaters. The basic stamp

    has been excellent to "debug" use of the LCD. Now that I have all the codes
    and address figured out, I am writing the code in assembly.

    I am certainly no expert with the SX, but will lend any help I am capable of
    giving.

    Ken


    Wait -- did you try the compiler, and that's
    why you're now saying it isn't fun? Did you
    just change your mind? Why the sudden
    difference? Please let us SX newbies know.


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-10-23 20:18
    In a message dated 10/23/2003 8:12:11 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
    jwilliams@p... writes:
    Let's take that discussion to the SX List and focus on BASIC Stamps
    here.

    This is related to the Basic Stamp

    Ken


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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