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Draft posted of Practical SX/B Parts I & II — Parallax Forums

Draft posted of Practical SX/B Parts I & II

Steph LindsaySteph Lindsay Posts: 767
edited 2008-12-29 01:11 in General Discussion
Hello Folks,

Sorry for the delay, I've had some really sticky font-embedding difficulties that took a few days to diagnose and work around.

I have attached the working draft of Jon Williams' upcoming book Practical SX/B, Parts I & II, 118 pages.·Part III is still being written.· The pdf page is 8.5x11, but the·print area is·formatted for the 7.5x8.5 book size.

As this is the recently-reformatted working draft, there will be typos and formatting glitches lurking in there.· Please direct techical questions to the author on this forum; general typos, formatting errata, and problems printing the document can be reported to me at editor@parallax.com.

Enjoy!

Stephanie Lindsay
Editor, Parallax Inc.
pdf
pdf
PracticalSXB-Parts1and2Draft.pdf
2M

Comments

  • jugglerjuggler Posts: 4
    edited 2007-07-20 03:42
    Awesome! Thanks Jon!!··yeah.gif It's Christmas in July. [noparse]:)[/noparse]
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2007-07-20 10:13
    tongue.gif·tongue.giftongue.gif
    Thanks so much!!!
    tongue.gif·tongue.giftongue.gif


    ·
  • CCraigCCraig Posts: 163
    edited 2007-07-20 16:36
    Thanks Jon, Great Job!

    Don't know if to post here: page 48, Blink6.SXB, the text doesn't match the code. In the program, VAR code = 3. In the text, it says VAR code is set to ZERO. Thus, the program does run. You fixed the program to have no bugs.

    Now, IF you are having problems writing buggy code. I can help [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    I have lots of experience, just ask anyone.

    Again, Great Job,

    Chris

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    I'm not scared of your robot. I'm covered by Old Glory (youtube)
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2007-07-20 17:00
    Thanks, I'll have a look -- we have a lot of reviewing to do but didn't want to make you wait too long as I'm working on the projects section.
  • T'SaavikT'Saavik Posts: 60
    edited 2007-07-20 18:21
    LOL @ (No assembly required!)
    Sorry, I love bad puns [noparse]:D[/noparse]

    I'll update this post as i read [noparse]:D[/noparse]
    So far: "There is nothing that inspires success like success..." is my favorite line in the book!

    Wonderful work so far, really enjoy reading this. The graphics of the circuit layouts are a REALLY nice reference and eyecandy, thanks for them! I'm sure they were a pain to make! Its fun reading this and comparing your examples to my attempts at re-working the stampworks code. Thank you for encouraging me in that direction many months ago! Its like i did my homework, turned it in, and now get to see it corrected with great advice in the columns [noparse]:D[/noparse]

    Possible errors:
    Page 48, the error CCraig pointed out above
    Page 73, "The physics of RC circuits dictate that a resistor will fully charge or fully discharge in five time-constants"
    I think that is suppose to be "The physics of RC circuits dictate that a resistor will fully charge or fully discharge a capacitor in five time-constants"
    Page 104, "I tend to favor the small value first approach so theTHAT when a byte and word are to be multiplied, the byte will be the first parameter"...However The example on page 105 takes the large value first. The comments on page 106 lead me to think you like the large value first.
    Page 109, "When using the SX28, for example, we have 19 bytes of program memory that we never have to worry about." Was this suppose to be "General ram" or is the chart missing a column? And why don't we have to worry about it? Seems like we worry about it in the next 3 pages? Are we not worrying about allocating it, since its do easy compared to the banked memory?
    Page 110 OPINION here: You explain what the array numbres mean in the chart, and now i understand them. That chart needs improvement somehow, its not up to par with the other visuals. Maybe something like what you have on page 63. Its a tough one, maybe colored coded with a legend?
    Also because I'm an idiot, when you mention the figure 15.1 i went back and looked at table 15.1. Might want to consider showing figure 15.1 before referencing it?


    I understand this is a draft, and think you for publishing it now and letting us enjoy it. I only want to help here, so please don't take this as criticism.

    Post Edited (T'Saavik) : 7/23/2007 11:33:18 PM GMT
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2007-07-20 18:53
    Glad you enjoyed that -- though there are advanced projects that show how to integrate assembly (e.g., ISR driven serial comms); I do keep that to a minimum, though; the idea is just writing clean, effective, SX/B code and letting the compiler do the hard work for us.
  • John CoutureJohn Couture Posts: 370
    edited 2007-07-28 17:29
    Jon, just read your book in the last week. Great job!

    When referencing it in my class it is possible to jump to a specific page in the manual similar to HTML bookmarks? In other words, if I refer to "Chapter 3" in your book with a hyperlink, is it possible to have it go right to that chapter?

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    John J. Couture

    San Diego Miramar College
  • John CoutureJohn Couture Posts: 370
    edited 2007-07-29 19:48
    Jon,

    Kool book, I'm adapting my course to follow it. Thanks again!

    Typos I noticed in the book:

    1) sequence of topics in Table of Contents does not match book.
    2) pg 1-30 ok
    3) pg 31 shows Sec 4, LED blinker program but header at top of page shows sec 7 Multiple LEDs
    4) Sec 7 header goes on until you actually hit sec 8 (pg 58)

    And of course a couple of suggestions:
    a) Include your "The Elements of SX/B Style" as an appendix

    b) Another suggested appendix might be a page of links that has links to all of the various books (i.e. see below) AND in big BOLD letters a link to a page showing that this appendix is updated as needed online (format the online page so that it can be printed and inserted in place of the appendix page).

    Link Appendix / Page:
    (Jon, I have these as HTML link if you want to save time)

    SX/B Online Help
    Beginning Assembler for the SX
    Electrical Engineering Tutorial
    Elements of SX/B Style
    Williams, A. (2004). "Exploring the SX Microcontroller with Assembly and Basic Programming, Version 3.0", Rocklin, CA:Parallax
    Applied Sensors, ver 1.3, 2003, Parallax
    SX Programming FAQ, ver 2.0
    "SX-Key Development System, Version 2.0". (2003). Rocklin,CA:Parallax
    SX Users Manual ver 3.1
    SX28 Datasheet
    SX Quick Reference Card, 2007, G. Daubach
    Practical SX/B, 2007, J. Williams, Draft ed.
    Programming the SX Microcontroller, 2003, G. Daubach, $29.95 (link to store)
    Best of SX Threads by Capt Quirk
    Latest Version of SX/B
    FAQ
    SX Forum
    SXList
    SX Sim
    List of NV articles highlighting the SX

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    John J. Couture

    San Diego Miramar College
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2007-07-29 20:41
    >>> 2) pg 1-30 ok

    You missed one on page 10!

    I already sent an email to Stephanie, so I'll leave it as a puzzle...
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,403
    edited 2007-07-30 03:32
    John, Kevin, T'Saavik, Craig and others:

    We really appreciate your input. You are helping us present the material the best way possible and speeding up the process through your contributions.

    I can hardly wait for the projects [noparse][[/noparse]hint hint JonnyMac!]. Based on what he has provided so far and what I know about the projects, Jon has some good stuff on the way.

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2007-07-30 13:20
    Thanks for all the feedback, guys -- most of you know it's hard to see individual trees when standing in the middle of the forest.
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2007-08-09 18:02
    P48, error, I think it might just be a wording error, if he states nothing different happens that would be correct instead of nothing would happen.
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2007-10-17 15:38
    Any updates?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2007-10-17 15:43
    We're getting close -- please be patient; this is the most difficult project I've ever taken on.
  • StarManStarMan Posts: 306
    edited 2008-01-22 17:29
    I just finished reading this....again.· Great book!· Any updates?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2008-01-22 21:57
    I'm working hard -- it has grown beyond "No Assembly Required" and has some neat stuff in it (like Charlie-plexing, X-10 input, DMX, etc.). The fact is that writing the book forced me to become a better programmer and I'm going to share what I've learned with you. Thanks for your patience.
  • steve_bsteve_b Posts: 1,563
    edited 2008-01-22 22:32
    I hate to be a pest....any timeline?!

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    <FONT>Steve



    What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
    Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2008-01-22 23:18
    Nope, but that shouldn't stop you from playing and experimenting -- which is part of the reason we've taken so long: as I worked with the SX every day (personally and professionally) I learned more things and it just seems that they should be in the book.
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2008-07-18 16:37
    It's coming up on the 1 year anniversery of the first 2 sections.· Any updates on when (if) well see the 3rd?
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2008-07-18 17:53
    The fault is mine: I have two jobs (engineer/tech writer [noparse][[/noparse]EFX-TEK] and actor/writer) and this book has been more challenging than I could have ever imagined; if it was easy it would be done and I would have collected a check a long time ago. The other issue we faced was a moving target (1.5 -> 2.0). Ken and Terry and I met a little over a month ago, decided to update everything in the book to 2.0, locked the 2.0 feature set, and are moving forward. We're closing in on the end but I won't predict a date that will probably just make you unhappy. There's still editing and formatting to finish and printing a bound book is a lot of work in and of itself.

    Yes, a lot of time has passed... but, really, what have you done to teach yourself? In the book I say very plainly that experience is a better teacher than I am. I know SX/B because I experiment with it every day -- the book is the result of my experiments and learning from great forum gurus like Bean, PJV, PJMonty, et al. Pick up the compiler and code, man! tongue.gif Don't wait for a book to have a really great time with the SX.

    Post Edited (JonnyMac) : 7/18/2008 5:58:23 PM GMT
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2008-07-18 18:07
    JonnyMac,
    I do understand where your coming from. I work in a very busy machine shop (yep still some around,, and in Michigan too.)

    The thing about having a book is that while experience can be a better teacher, by being prepared and reading on the subject you can make your time more effective while trying to learn new things. There is no way I can spend more than a couple hours a week playing with the SX so I look for every advantage I can.

    I appriciate your efforts in this. Thanks again for a great primer!

    Russ
  • RsadeikaRsadeika Posts: 3,837
    edited 2008-07-18 20:33
    I thought their were two people that would be involved in writting books, whatever happened to the second person, and the book?
  • T'SaavikT'Saavik Posts: 60
    edited 2008-07-18 22:32
    Patiently and eagerly awaiting the release [noparse]:D[/noparse]
    Ever since July 1st came up, I've been sitting on my hands trying not to ask if its out yet!

    Just to let you know, we are still enthused to get it.
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,214
    edited 2008-07-19 00:21
    That July date you saw was a typo -- in the meeting mentioned above Terry and I agreed it would take longer than that to finish 2.0 (done) and associated testing -- we feel good about that, too, but little things come up as beta testers really put the new compiler through its paces.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2008-07-19 00:56
    And I want to thank all the Beta testers for finding the bug and for their suggestions.
    I'm sure the book will be worth the wait.

    Bean.

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    "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you·have."·· Thomas Jefferson

    "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."·Dumbledore from Harry Potter

    www.iElectronicDesigns.com

    ·
  • John BondJohn Bond Posts: 369
    edited 2008-08-04 14:04
    I really appreciate your ability to teach us programming skills and many hours of my experience is unlikely to equal 10 minutes reading your clear explanation.

    You do yourself and the other forum members a great disservice by suggesting we can learn better just programming. From time to time, I take some utility you or Bean or PJV or PJMonty or G
  • ProfessorwizProfessorwiz Posts: 153
    edited 2008-12-29 01:11
    Any updates? I can't wait to see the cool stuff you guys come up with1
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