[emusteve]

Keen101, go ahead and revive it! Don't know who may be listening, but the topic is still relevent.

For my part, I'd like to see a system based on a popular core, and NO required software for the user processor. Required tasks, yes! But I see no need for FIRST to require the use of proprietary libraries, or a dictated framework. A Master processor in the system, can always take hold of the user processor via hardware (NMI or hold the Reset) if they need to override. Just require us to answer the Master when it calls, within a specified time window, and pass appropriate data. If you use a popular core (ie: ARM), an advanced programmer could use Linux, or any other ported OS, instead of whatever framework FIRST wanted to supply. Likewise, they could have their choice of available IDE or compiler.

The greatest issue for our team, is cost of the software. Programming isn't a curriculum item in our school district, so any instruction for new programmers has to come from the team. We can't afford licenses for the kids to take home and install, nor can we buy extra controllers. This year I started teaching C using a Zilog processor. The kit is only $50, and Zilog gives away (free on their site) the IDE >WITH< a FULLY FUNCTIONAL (read NO limitations, including Floaing Point and Trig functions) ANSI C Compiler. The IDE is very similar to MPLAB in look and feel. We've got more kids working on programming for this year than we heve ever had in the past.

Yes, I like Zilog, but I'm not saying its the best choice. What I'm getting at, is we need to have a controller and programming tools that are redily available and inexpensive for students to have access, and work with outside of the Robo Room. No proprietary boot loader or programming hardware involved, so they can practice on something that doesn't cost $1500, but still work with an environment that can be used to program the real thing.

We also need some self-contained subsystems. For a newbie programmer, trying to tune a PID loop operating across 3 processors (User, Master, and the Bit-Twiddler in a Victor), is a frustrating if near impossible task!

Steve