BasicMicro - Forums

Thanks for the reeeallly thorough answer.
Take care.

Greetings All,

Here is the input from a newbie (I have been working with stamp controllers for less than two weeks; I have experimented so far with both the Parallax BS2, the Atom Nano, and Atom Pro-M controllers). Interesting that this would be my first post into this forum!

Here is my .001 cents on the new manual based once again from a newbie prospective:

1) Possibly list the commands in alphabetical order vs. being grouped by function; at least include an index of commands in the end of the manual (please include page numbers also instead of simply listing the commands).

2) Keep using lots of examples; I am not talented enough to write all of the code for a project but I AM very good at reverse engineering code to satisfy the needs for my project! I think that most of us who are not professional programmers learn new technology by studying the works of others

3) As already stated it would be very helpful to include schematics when needed for I/O-based commands

Great job on the efforts on the manual! The author(s) of this project have made great strides in the content of this manual in a very short period of time (in my day job I am an instructor who teaching IT-Networking classes at a technical college so I can appreciate the efforts and energy that is required to create a useful document that one can learn from).

Thanks-Brian

Hello, Brian. The Nano development board data sheet has schematics and demo code. Schematics are available in data sheets for other development boards. App notes with source code and demo code are available in the forums and in the downloads section of the Basic Micro site.
Yeah, all this is available, but spread all over. This is where the manual comes in.
BTW, most commands are common across all three Atoms lines (basic Atom, Nano and Pro). They can be used (mostly) interchangeably. Since the parts run at 8MHz, 16MHz, or 20MHz, you can appreciate there are timing differences. Since registers differ between parts, there can be range differences also. Ie, one part may have a range expressed as a 16-bit value while another is a 32-bit value. Come onnn, manual!
Take care.

Thanks for all the help We are almost done with the move. I'll be back on the manual early next week and stay on it until done.

How is the move going?

Kurt

Settled in for the most part. I had to make a small detour on the manual. Few data sheets that were over due. Primairly the motor controller and ARC32. Then back to the manual full time. Looks like I may have those 2 data sheets done this week. Progress is slow with all the testing that I do for each section.

Also email your address again so I can send the sample ARC32 I have. One of the first was suppose to go to you but I forgot in the shuffle.

Looking forward to the data sheets as well.

I emailed the information...

Kurt

How are spec sheets coming along?

Kurt

The data sheet for the Robo Claw ended up being 50 pages. I'll upload the WIP tonight. I think I'll be back on the manual Monday. Nates almost done with the IDE and tooltips. The new SLONG bug will get fixed early next week.

ARC32 was shipped. Will start data sheet this weekend.

50 pages! Will take a look. May have to pick up one of these to play with in my Rover or Tritrack...

Great! Some other things in a short term wish list:
a) Have it work with windows 7 without the UAC error... My impression is Nathan has Windows7 on his machine now...

b) Make serout/serin work at i115200. That way for projects using BAP28/SSC-32 they can run the SSC-32 at full speed. It appears like the output is closer to a baud rate of 125000. I do have my own assembly language functions which work but it work for me and Zenta, but would be nice to simply use the real things... I sent Nathan, test program, bitmap showing the output and a trace from the logic analyzer...

c) On the Bap28 the hardware serial port is HSERIAL on the Bap40 the hardware serial port that is TTL levels is HSERIAL2 and I think likewise for Arc32. So if you have a project that you wish to run on both, example using XBEE with hardware serial port, your code looks pretty messy. ie you have to #ifdef and use HSERIN on the 28 and HSERIN2 on 40. I mentioned this to Nathan and he said he may be able to introduce some flag or the like to make it easier. Two possible ways;
1) Allow HSERIN2 on Bap28 which ends up simply goes to HSERIN.
2) A define that swaps HSERIN/HSERIN2 on Bap40...
3) (yeah I said 2) - Could add full macro capabilities in basic. something like:#define MYHSERIN HSERIN2... MYHSERIN [...]... This might be great to have but probably way too much work.


Yeah - I have parts coming from Lynxmotion to complete a phoenix, which I plan to get fully working with this!

Kurt

I looked up on the main website under downloads and found that the new Robo Claw manual is up there, also one for the bitswitch. Looks great

Kurt

We will be back on the manual this week. Plan is to wrap it up in next 2 weeks. Nathan is starting the front section.

Here is a work in progress. I was only able to work on this for a few hours. Variables are done. Constants started. Tomorrow should have most of the front section completed. Then back to the syntax.

Grammar and spelling are poor. I don't correct that sort of stuff until I'm completely done

Here is v10. I think I'm aobut 1/2 way done. Once all the content is in there it will be allot of clean up and expanding on command descriptions. Enjoy.

Here is V12. There is about 8 new commands. Once I get all the content in, I will start on the TOC. Only after the manual is 100% complete will I start on an index. I think about one or two more passes and we may just switch to the WIP and remove the other manual.

As to grammar I think I will continue to wait on that. I've already re-written a lot of sections and I think several more passes will cause several other parts to be re-written. So its probably a waste of time now. Also, I do plan on adding a section for special thanks to all the contributors. So all the help is not forgotten.


Have a great weekend

PS
I'm going to practice my Corona commerical impersonations this weekend.