Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Finalizing a Project — Parallax Forums

Finalizing a Project

Mag748Mag748 Posts: 269
edited 2004-11-10 19:49 in BASIC Stamp
Hello,

I have made a nice program with my BS2 and am interested in finalizing it in order to permanantly use it. Now, of course I dont want to just keep using the BS2 and waste the money it cost, so I am wondering if there is any way to write the program to a PIC or some other cheap chip to use permanantly. It would only need 4 or 6 pins too.

Also, I know that PICs need to be programed, but I was wondering if there was any simple way to do it, like with the Stamp or something.

Thank you,
Marcus

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

Comments

  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,400
    edited 2004-11-09 05:04
    Marcus,

    Chances are that your program will run in an SX chip. In fact, we released a free BASIC compiler for the SX18/20/28 a little over one week ago. The compiler is called SX/B; details are here:

    http://www.parallax.com/sx/sxb.asp

    Send me your code and I will give you a preliminary evaluation whether or not it will easily run with the SX/B compiler. My e-mail is kgracey@Parallax.com.

    Also, if you are designing a PCB you could use the BASIC Stamp interpreter chips. You'd source an EEPROM and resonator (from Parallax or Digi-Key) and build your own Stamp onto your design. In low quantities this costs about $12/Stamp but in higher volumes it can be as low as $8-9/Stamp.

    Sincerely,

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2004-11-09 14:01
    Ken,

    from what I gather in your post....

    I code a project using one of the Stamps....and then I 'could' port it in to an SXchip using this new compiler?
    I know....I could probably click on the link and read it for myself....

    It's cold up here in Canada and my laptop is starting to freeze (Sled Dog Drool gets everywhere!).

    tongue.gif

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    ·

    Steve
    http://members.rogers.com/steve.brady
    http://www.geocities.com/paulsopenstage

    "Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that's ours and ours alone. Something that can't be learned... something that's got to be remembered."
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2004-11-09 14:23
    SX/B is FAR from PBASIC, most of the commands are there, but most programs will need major changes to work in SX/B.

    Also the SX does not have any EEPROM, and SX/B does not have WORD variables.

    But what the SX/B does have is speed and true interrupts.

    Bean.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-11-09 14:26
    The SX/B compiler is very PBASIC-like, but not directly PBASIC compatible for many commands. You can get an idea about SX/B by going to the SX forum and downloading the SX/B help file that's attached to a sticky thread at the top. The help file not only has syntax descriptions and demos, but about five projects of varous types, including a full-blown serial LCD controller (yes, written in BASIC).

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2004-11-09 15:38
    Another way to do it would be to buy a product which would let you compile your PBasic program and 'burn' it into a native PIC processor. Note this path can cost from $400 to thousand's of dollars, depending on the vendor. However, if you are selling more than 30 of your widgets, it can be cost effective.
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2004-11-09 16:15
    And PLEASE understand that we (Parallax) cannot and will not provide support for third-party vendors that claim to be PBASIC-compatible.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas Office
  • Mag748Mag748 Posts: 269
    edited 2004-11-09 23:40
    WOW, thanks for all the help already.

    I feel kinda of embarassed though cause the program that I do have is extremely simple actually, the only commands used are GOSUB, RETURN, FOR, NEXT, HIGH, LOW, and TOGGLE.
    Oh, and a lot of PAUSEs.
    But, my moto is 'Theres no Program too small!'

    The actual application is to be installed in a car which will control six (or more) 'clusters' of LEDs. This project is for an Emergency vehicle, and can·you imagine that a professional small 4 LED strobe light costs $60! So, being the only guy on the Ambulance corps who knows ANYTHING about computers, I said I could totally beat that price.

    So finally, if I were to recode the program in SX/B, which I could prob figure out myself (Thanks for the offer Ken, unless those commands listed above aren't compatible (haven't read any SX/B docs yet)), how easily would it be to write to the SX18AC/DP? Of course, I would not be making more than one of these, and (as it looks in the picture) the chip doesnt have any real pins, only the little tiny PCB solder kind. Are there and SX chips with pins to be soldered onto a normal board? I mean the ones they sell at radioshack.

    Sorry for rambling, thanks again for everything. Off to PDF land.
    Marcus

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • Mag748Mag748 Posts: 269
    edited 2004-11-10 00:37
    Ahh, /DP = real pins to be soldered to a radioshack board. got that cleared up.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,400
    edited 2004-11-10 00:54
    Marcus,

    All of the commands you need are readily available in SX/B. Indeed, your project could be done on the SX without any difficulty. You could probably get by with the SX18AC/DP. Take a look at SX/Bs on-line help file - it has examples of pushbuttons/LED driving.

    What we don't have is a tidy little through-hole "carrier board" for the SX18/28. . . but I think we better make one now! Maybe we can offer them for a couple of bucks and do you guys a favor for your *in-between-quantity* hand-made low-volume production type projects (your common ambulance corps LED flashers!).

    Sincerely,

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • Mag748Mag748 Posts: 269
    edited 2004-11-10 01:38
    Thanks again,
    Im gonna be doing some serious SX researching for the next few (uh, i'd like to say days, but it will prob be weeks) and not ask you guys any more q's. but if I come up with some, ill repost them in here.

    Thanks,
    Marcus

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
  • allanlane5allanlane5 Posts: 3,815
    edited 2004-11-10 19:49
    Oh, Ken, it would be *so nice* to have a parallax branded "carrier" board for the SX.

    Currently, the best one I've found is made by Al Williams, off his "GPMPU40" card.

    And, for MAG748, you'll have to purchase one of Parallax's SX development systems to program the chip. As far as I know, this is the simplist and best development and debugging system for the SX series of chips. It's a little over $100.00, I understand.

    Note that developing this kind of thing, and debugging it, and putting it on a board with a power-supply and enclosure, can have a bit of a learning curve. Meaning it may cost you $200.00 by the time you're done with your $30.00 widget. But it will be very educational.
Sign In or Register to comment.