Subject:
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Re: Something else is needed, I think...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sun, 2 May 1999 12:11:03 GMT
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Original-From:
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Laurentino Martins <(lau@mail.)saynotospam(telepac.pt)>
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Viewed:
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836 times
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At 07:59 02/05/99 Sunday , you wrote:
> I'm just wondering how many people agree with me on this point...
>
> I think that another code development system is needed for the RCX.
>
> Why?
>
> Well, it seems like everything that's already out there is either
> overkill (legos, pbforth for rcx), or suffers from limitations imposed
> by the standard rcx firmware (mindstorms, nqc, et al).
>
> I believe that in terms of complexity, something halfway between legos
> and nqc is needed. Something like the Handyboard's Interactive C for
> the RCX would be about what I might imagine for such a middle-ground
> development system. The first phase of such a project would doubtless
> be to write an alternative firmware that is more accomodating to complex
> programs than the exiisting firmware. I would not expect this new
> firmware to be in any way compatible with the old. Making a compiler
> that would work with this new firmware would have the benefit of being
> more flexible than nqc because the old firmware's limitations (such as
> 32 integer variables, and no local variables) could be eliminated, and
> more practical than legos because it would undoubtably be much more
> lightweight than the legos package along with a full-blown H8
> cross-compiler.
Sorry to disagree, but I think we already have a very good range of developing systems: (1) The LEGO software for newbies, (2) RcxCC + NQC + Spirit.ocx for the large majority of the projects, and (3) LegOS for those who want to go beyond the limitations.
Now I believe there is too big gap between NQC and LegOS, and maybe there should be made some effort for creating a reliable LegOS setup for Windows based PCs. I'm thinking in a InstallShield type of setup that setups everything with a few clicks, installs some IDE editor (and F1 key help) and is ready to start compiling after that.
And why Windows based PCs? Because people who want to migrate are most probably already using it for NQC. :->
LegOS is already an established platform, so instead of shorting the gap, we should build some bridges instead.
By the way, I want to thank Mark Overmarks and Dave Baum for creating RcxCC and NQC. IMHO it's one of the best things that happened to the RCX and CyberMaster world and I'm sure they will be the main development platform for LEGO computers for years to come.
You may not give much importance to this, but being a CyberMaster owner I'm happy to be "stuck" with this great platform since I depend a lot on the Spirit.ocx for creating great projects.
Thank you. :-)
PS: I know there are other languages out there that use the Spirit.ocx, but I'm a C/C++ addict and this is my language of choice. :-)
Laurentino Martins
[mailto:lau@mail.telepac.pt]
[http://www.terravista.pt/Enseada/2808/]
--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Something else is needed, I think...
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| I think this was only mentioned on the legos mailing list, but there are now two web-based compilers for LegOS. Write the code on whatever text based system you have, cut and paste it into a form on the web, and voila! Get a .srec file mailed back (...) (25 years ago, 2-May-99, to lugnet.robotics)
| | | Re: Something else is needed, I think...
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| (...) ^^^...^^^ That is exactly the point that I was trying to make. (...) Again, though, such a system would bear the incredible weight of having a full-blown C/C++ cross-compiler and linking system as being part of the package. Making legos (...) (25 years ago, 2-May-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Something else is needed, I think...
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| I'm just wondering how many people agree with me on this point... I think that another code development system is needed for the RCX. Why? Well, it seems like everything that's already out there is either overkill (legos, pbforth for rcx), or (...) (25 years ago, 2-May-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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