Chief Delphi - View Single Post

tjcasser · #4 18-05-2007, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasP

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eldarion

Interpreted languages, or for that matter languages that require large library files to run compiled programs, are generally not suitable for embedded control. Simply put, it would require a small laptop in order to do a typical robot's tasks using Java, .NET, Visual Basic, or any other language of that type due to the increased runtime overhead, both in terms of the CPU and RAM.

They have a .NET Compact Framework, Java Micro Edition, etc... with more processing power and memory, the new RC could easily run one of the newer languages just as fast as the current RC runs C and then it will only get faster from there.

Just let me recap something I mentioned earlier in this thread, IIRC.

Having played with robots programed in Java last week, I can tell you that Java ME does work rather well when it comes to developing software for small, power constrained devices. (You actually use the same interfaces that you use for writing programs that run on a Java-enabled cellphone.) .Net CF has a slightly larger footprint, but it too likely could handle the processors that I imagine FIRST is looking at using in the post-2008 era.

When they say 'support for multiple languages', that smacks to me of a device that's capable of running an operating system in some fashion, rather than just a simple processor... so it's back to the whole wait-and-see...