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Experientia_docet
Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 13
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Posted: 18 September 2009, 22:39 PM Post subject: programming Zbasic into other Atmel microcontollers |
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| Just a purely theoretical question; could the Zbasic bootloader/interpreter be programmed into more Atmel chips. I wish you would if it could happen as I'd rather use Zbasic than any othrer language.!!!
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dkinzer
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 2499
Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: 18 September 2009, 23:14 PM Post subject: Re: programming Zbasic into other Atmel microcontollers |
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| Experientia_docet wrote: | | [C]ould the Zbasic bootloader/interpreter be programmed into more Atmel chips. |
Are you asking if other Atmel devices could be supported? The answer to that question is yes, subject to some limits (see below). What Atmel devices did you have in mind?
For native mode, a target device must have a minimum of 32K bytes of Flash memory and a minimum of perhaps 2K of RAM. The mega328P represents this low end type of device. For a VM mode device, the minimum Flash size is 64K and the minimum RAM size is essentially the same. (This is one of the reasons that we no longer offer the mega32-based devices.)
We do have to build the ZBasic support code (whether native or VM) specifically for each target device due to differences between devices. In order to justify the work involved in producing and maintaining the ZBasic code for a new device it must have a significant advantage over the other supported devices, e.g. more resources, higher speed, lower cost, more convenient physical form, etc.
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Experientia_docet
Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 13
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Posted: 19 September 2009, 3:04 AM Post subject: |
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I didn't really have a partiucular chip in mind., Thanks for explaining all the work thaat goes into enabling a Zbasic chip. I had no idea it required that much work and I think the microcontrollers you have on offer would satisfy any project I come up with.
What is native mode and VM difference ?
Mike.
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dkinzer
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 2499
Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: 19 September 2009, 3:31 AM Post subject: |
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| Experientia_docet wrote: | | What is native mode and VM difference ? |
The FAQ on that topic may be helpful. If that doesn't fully answer your question, please ask a more specific question and I'll address it.
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Experientia_docet
Joined: 15 Jul 2009
Posts: 13
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Posted: 19 September 2009, 4:04 AM Post subject: That pretty much coverd all my questions. |
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Don, before I discovered Zbasic I was going to purchase an educational developmenrt board from futurlec.com.au
for AVR chips
I guess this board will not work with Zbasic microcontrollers? if not is there anything out there with similar functionality ?
Best Regards,
Mike.
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dkinzer
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 2499
Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: 19 September 2009, 4:58 AM Post subject: Re: That pretty much coverd all my questions. |
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| Experientia_docet wrote: | | I guess this board will not work with Zbasic microcontrollers? |
It might be possible to make it work with a ZX-40n with some modifications. The board uses an ATmega8535 which has the same pinout as the ZX-40n. However, the board comes with an 8MHz crystal so that would have to be changed to a 14.7456MHz crystal. The other issue is that you'd have to add the required ATN circuitry which is used for downloading code to ZX devices. You can find the suggested ATN circuit in the ZBasic Language Reference Manual appendix.
The necessary changes would require a fair amount of electronics experience (including board repair/modification). I wouldn't suggest attempting it if you're an electronics novice.
You may be better off in the long run by buying a two or three section solderless breadboard (several examples at http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/6884 and many other places). You'll have much more space to use for experiments and have a lot more flexibility.
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mikep
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 765
Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: 19 September 2009, 5:17 AM Post subject: |
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Because the ZBasic ZX-24* series and Oak Micros ZX-24*e series of devices are pin compatible with the Basic Stamp it is possible to use these devices in any board that also supports the Stamp. However the boards may not have been tested with the ZBasic devices. This thread gives some ideas about what is doable.
Another device that is Stamp compatible is the Comfile CB220. The interesting part is that they make a prototyping board (see picture below) with similar features to what you are looking for. I have the Comfile board and have tested with btho 24-pin and 40-pin ZBasic devices. It works just fine.
You will need to map the I/O pins from a ZX-24* device to their board but it is very simple (5-12 => 0-7 and 13-20 => 8-15). If you have a ZX-24*e device then the mapping is 5-12 => 0-7, 13-20 => 16-23, 21-28 => 24-31, and 29-36 => 8-15. I have used some sticky labels with this board to good effect.
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