What program should I write?

[rbayer]

Well, nobody has complained about any errors in RoboEmu 1.06, so I'm going to assume it works for everyone (let me know if I'm wrong!). Therefore, I know have a lot of free time, so I want to start another project that people think might be helpful.

Anyway, here's a little explanation on each of the choices:

• RoboEmu for Linux--a linux port of my PBASIC emulator
• RoboGUI for Linux -- a linux port of my program creator
• Computerized Robot Control -- ability to control the robot using a laptop, etc. Seethis post and the replies for more info.
• YADP -- yet another dashboard program for Windows (I already wrote one for Linux).
• Other -- let me know if you have any other ideas.

I'm open to just about any project, whether its a handful of lines of code or mult-thousands of lines (like RoboEmu and RoboGUI), I'm willing to do it if people have the desire for it. Also, it doesn't have to be something to help programmers. If you have ideas for helping the electrical, pneumatics, mechanical, animation, chairman's, etc people, I'd be willing to do that too.

--Rob

P.S. If you haven't checked out RoboEmu, RoboGUI, or gDash (Linux dashboard viewer), they're available at http://FIRSTprograms.tripod.com/Programs.htm

[dlavery]

How about a Basic Stamp II Editor/Download Controller that runs native on a Mac under OS X?

I've tried a the expected kludge answers (i.e. stampw.exe running on Virtual PC v5.0 under OS X 10.2, with a Keyspan USB-serial adapter with din-9 to DB-9 cable, etc.) with frustrating results. Anyone up for writing a better solution (and don't say "get a PC" - I'd rather shove a stick in my eye)?

- dave

[rbayer]

Running native under OS X? That shouldn't be too bad. After all, it's just BSD. Hmmm.... maybe for MacOS 8, as that's what I have on my OLD desktop (read: 33Mhz). Excellent suggestion, dlavery.

[ECarlson]

I sent you an e-mail with enough suggestions for updating RoboEmu 1.06 to keep you busy for at least an hour.

[rbayer]

An hour? At LEAST! They're good suggestions, though, and I'll probably try to incorporate as many of them as I can without gutting the whole program. I especially liked the idea of indicator bars for the PWMs, and lights for the relays. I'll probabbly just write a few more ActiveX controls to handle all the messy drawing stuff. The Paused PWMs staying at 127 is a know issue, but I have absolutely no idea why it does this. My only guess is that it has something to do with my thread syncronization(sp?) stuff. Anyway, I've got an MIT application to finish by Thurs, but after that I'll get back to work on some of this stuff.

As for the computerized Robot Control, codenamed RoboCon, it's coming along. As soon as I get an OI from the school, I'll begin my initial beta tests. Yes, that does mean I have the code mostly done. Again, look for an initial and very buggy release (like the first releasees of RoboEmu) by early next week.

As for a Mac OS X PBASIC IDE, I'm currently planning on writing a Linux version using gtk+, which should also compile on OS X, but I really am not that familiar with MacOS higher than 8.1. From what I've heard, though, I shouldn't even need to modify the code at all. Anyone want to confirm/disprove this?

--Rob

[ECarlson]

Thanks for the update. Please add the LED outputs for each joystick.

I said "an hour" since you seem to be a very fast programmer. It's amazine that you can get all these programs done so quickly.

Good luck with MIT.

[rbayer]

For each joystick?!?!?!?!?

Do you mean relay? I hope so, 'cause otherwise I'm completely lost and confused. Maybe those seven cans of Coke this afternoon wasn't such a good idea....

[ECarlson]

Robot feedback LED's on joystick ports 1 & 3, pins 5, 8, 9, 15, Variables Out8-Out15.

[Jeff Waegelin]

What about something that allows you to program from a USB port? Seeing as more and more laptops are going "legacy-free", it's hard to find a new laptop suitable for programming.

[ECarlson]

Your team gets new laptops!? We have an old Pentium-100 with a 640x480 screen running Windows 95. It doesn't even have USB. It has to be plugged in because the battery is dead. And sometimes it crashes for no reason.

PS: For you lucky teams with new laptops, I think you can get a PCMCIA to serial or a USB to serial adapter.

[SlamminSammy]

Other teams have their own laptops for programming? We have one for web-design and we technical people have to buy/use our own (actually, Rob just "borrowed" his laptop from another high school--that was a few years ago and we're not sure if they're missing it yet).

[f22flyboy]

How about a RoboGUI and RoboEMU for Mac OS9. Maybe even that DashboardSpec thing for mac.

Apple gave our county a grant and we all get shiny new iBooks.

Too bad there isn't a useful program on them, no office, no .avi player. Also they are locked down so we can't load anything on them, no freeware, no Parallax, etc.

Yes it would be great if we could use these for programming, but common nonsense has prevailed again

[rbayer]

Originally posted by SlamminSammy
Other teams have their own laptops for programming? We have one for web-design and we technical people have to buy/use our own (actually, Rob just "borrowed" his laptop from another high school--that was a few years ago and we're not sure if they're missing it yet).

I gave that one back and you know it! Sam's point still stands though: I have to use my own.


OK, back to my actual responses:

Originally posted byJeff Waegelin
What about something that allows you to program from a USB port? Seeing as more and more laptops are going "legacy-free", it's hard to find a new laptop suitable for programming.

Unfortunately, the Stamp processor doesn't understand USB electrical/signaling protocols, so you'd need to convert it to RS-232 anyway.

Originally posted by f22flyboy
How about a RoboGUI and RoboEMU for Mac OS9. Maybe even that DashboardSpec thing for mac.

OS 9 would be almost impossible as I don't have any OS 9 computers. If I ever get around to doing a Linux port, it should compile under OS X, as well. Speaking of laptops, I'd be perfectly willing to try my hand at an OS 9 version if someone wants to donate a Mac laptop to me....

Currently, I'm working on RoboCon, the computerized robot control, but as soon as that's done, I'm going to port as much of my stuff to Linux as I can.

In any event, RoboEmu 1.07 is done, so check it out if you have the time.

--Rob

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by ECarlson
Your team gets new laptops!? We have an old Pentium-100 with a 640x480 screen running Windows 95. It doesn't even have USB. It has to be plugged in because the battery is dead. And sometimes it crashes for no reason.

PS: For you lucky teams with new laptops, I think you can get a PCMCIA to serial or a USB to serial adapter.

Actually, the laptop I use is my own personal machine. I have a nice, new laptop that I bought, and it doesn't have serial. Right now, we're stuck with an old NEC Pentium 90 that has no CD or battery. It's also Win95, but with an 800x600 screen.

[MacZealot]

Gimme a few weeks and I might be able to port your unix programs to OS X (and port it to cocoa while I'm at it)

OS 9 programming is worthless. That OS is dead to developers anyway.