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Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3194

Posted: 04:47am 18 Apr 2012

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A new version of MMBasic (ver 3.2) is available for download from:
- http://geoffg.net/maximite.html (for the Maximite and DuinoMite)
- http://geoffg.net/ubw32.html (for the UBW32).

This version introduces a number of new features:

- Defined Functions. These compliment defined subroutines and allows the programmer to add a function to MMBasic that operates the same as the built in functions. See the "MMBasic 3.X Features.pdf" (included in the update) for a tutorial on defined functions.

- Dynamic memory management. This greatly expands the amount of usefully available memory. Now memory for all functions (program, variables and general use) is automatically allocated from a central pool which can be as large as 109KB (with video turned off). This translates into the ability to run very large programs (greater than 3,000 lines) or to allocate huge arrays with more than 20,000 elements.

- A version of MMBasic that runs in a DOS window on Windows XP/Vista/7.

- For the DuinoMite added support for the hardware serial interfaces (COM3: and COM4:). They operate exactly the same as the standard ports and support speeds up to 460800 baud (no, that is not a typo). Added support for measuring the battery voltage, added support for I/O pins 11 and 12 (with caveats) and implemented a reliable method of detecting when the micro SD card has been removed or changed. It is now no longer necessary to reset the DuiniMite when changing the SD card.

Two other improvements in 3.2 are:

- Rewritten the SPI function to improve performance and provide much needed features. The transmission mode and the number of bits to send/receive can now be set and the clock speed has been increased to 3MHz.

- Corrected a number of issues with the UBW32 version related to I2C and the frequency/counting inputs.

MMBasic is being ported to a number of chips and platforms other than the Maximite/UBW32 so now there is a website dedicated to MMBasic at http://mmbasic.com (thanks to crackerjack for the suggestion). This website also has the DOS version of MMBasic (which can be downloaded from http://mmbasic.com/downloads.html). Note that the DOS version does not support features of the Maximite version that are dependent on the Maximite hardware. This includes external input/output, graphics, special keyboard keys, full screen editor and line editing.

The Maximite/UBW32/DuinoMite downloads also contain three other files:

- Bits8 is a library of bit manipulation functions and subroutines that add eight bit manipulation to MMBasic. The library demonstrates the power of user defined subroutines and functions in MMBasic and provides a very useful library if ever you need to "twiddle" bits in MMBasic. These routines were written by crackerjack.

- MaxMan written by Nick Marentes. I included it because it illustrates the speed and capabilities of the Maximite when driving a VGA monitor. It is also fast paced, engaging and addictive !!

- MMBasic Quick Reference for 3.2 written by crackerjack.

Thanks again to the Beta Test team for their help, there would be far more hidden bugs in MMBasic if it were not for their efforts.

The Change Log (included in the update download) details the changes and the MMBasic Language Manual (also included in the download) has been updated to include the new features listed above.

Phew, that must be enough for one post...
Geoff

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

vasi

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Joined: 23/03/2007
Location: Romania
Posts: 1697

Posted: 08:15am 18 Apr 2012

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This is a fantastic release! I hope there is a future version for Chipkit Max32 board.

Vasi

Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton
Elvish name: Mablung Miriel
Beyound Arduino Lang

jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711

Posted: 08:19am 18 Apr 2012

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Fantastic

Big Thank you from Me.
And this is just what the doctor ordered

"Bits8 is a library of bit manipulation functions and subroutines that add eight bit manipulation to MMBasic. The library demonstrates the power of user defined subroutines and functions in MMBasic and provides a very useful library if ever you need to "twiddle" bits in MMBasic. These routines were written by crackerjack"

Thanks Again

John

Olimex
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Joined: 02/10/2011
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 226

Posted: 09:18am 18 Apr 2012

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great to see the progress with DM hardware features supported and looking forward to see also: CAN, Low power modes, USB host (for HID, USB memory stick as start), USB mass storage through USB and the SD-card, GPIOs on the UEXT and ICSP to be possible to be used by MM BASIC too.

cosmic frog
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Joined: 09/02/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 284

Posted: 10:05am 18 Apr 2012

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I would just like to thank Geoffg for all his hard work on MMBASIC and for making computing fun again.

Thanks.

Dave.

darthmite

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Joined: 20/11/2011
Location: France
Posts: 240

Posted: 11:11am 18 Apr 2012

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From now i no more say "my God" but "my Geoff" ... he he he

I will be back at home tomorrow and will test this new great release !
And as well continue the little game i am writing atm

Cheers.

Theory is when we know everything but nothing work ...
Practice is when everything work but no one know why ;)

vk4tec

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Joined: 24/03/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 239

Posted: 11:15am 18 Apr 2012

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National holiday "MMBasic" day

Andrew Rich VK4TEC
www.tech-software.net

boss

Senior Member

Joined: 19/08/2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 268

Posted: 03:15pm 18 Apr 2012

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Yes, 3.2 is greatly improved code. I had an opportunity to test preleased version and there is lot of space for code and data as well. And extended SPI function allows to connect color TFT display.

Regards
boss

DuinoMiteMegaAn
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Joined: 17/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 231

Posted: 06:48pm 18 Apr 2012

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MMBasic 3.2 DM Questions

#1. Can the "re-added" Com3 on the UEXT used as GPIO eg digital input/output?
If so, what is the software pin numbers?

#2. Can the "re-added" Com4 on Pins # 11 & 12 be used as GPIO eg digital input/output?

#3. Clarification --> On page 2 in the "DuinoMite MMBasic readme.pdf" you refer to the external view of the external Duinomite 26 pin connector. You show the "software pin #s" which does not correspond to the actual external GPIO pin numbers on the physical connector? (Very confusing)

vk4tec

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Joined: 24/03/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 239

Posted: 06:53pm 18 Apr 2012

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GPS project updated to DuinoMite MMBasic V3.2

+ NMEA Parse
+ LCD 20x4 routines
+ Distance and bearing calcs
+ SD card logging

Odd behaviour - roll back necessary to V3.1R

+ GPS port has moved ? UEXT COM3 ?
+ PIC32 locked up after loading V3.2
+ Control C out of Terra Term did not work
+ SD card needed to be out to boot up
+ Prompt wont respond to carriage return
+ Banner shows DuinoMite MMBasic Version 3.2
+ COM3: 19200 MOD-GPS

Was running DuinoMite MMBasic V3.1R ( pre-release )

PIN RS = 18
PIN EN = 17
PIN D1 = 6
PIN D2 = 5
PIN D3 = 15
PIN D4 = 16

LCD shows banner and then does not see GPS on UEXT

Andrew
Edited by vk4tec 2012-04-20

Andrew Rich VK4TEC
www.tech-software.net

Raros

Regular Member

Joined: 06/02/2012
Location: Italy
Posts: 55

Posted: 08:23pm 18 Apr 2012

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Thank You very very much Geoff.
This is fantastic.

Raros.

f1fco

Senior Member

Joined: 18/03/2012
Location: France
Posts: 154

Posted: 08:42pm 18 Apr 2012

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it was not a dream but reality !

thank you Geoff for that

does this version works on CGMMSTICK1 ?

F1FCO, Pierre

73s de F1FCO

CircuitGizmos

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Joined: 08/09/2011
Location: United States
Posts: 1425

Posted: 08:49pm 18 Apr 2012

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f1fco said
does this version works on CGMMSTICK1 ?

Yes. Load the Maximite version to the CGMMSTICK1.

Micromites and Maximites! - Beginning Maximite

cwilt
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Joined: 20/03/2012
Location: United States
Posts: 147

Posted: 11:36pm 18 Apr 2012

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The changes to SPI are great.
Functions are so useful.
I2c is working nicely on UBW32 as well.

Thanks Geoff.

TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6098

Posted: 02:49am 19 Apr 2012

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The DOS version works happily on the 64 bit version of W7.
A very handy addition indeed.

I have added a command to MM Edit to run the code in the DOS window.

Thanks Geoff

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit MMBasic Help

plasma
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Joined: 08/04/2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 437

Posted: 04:10am 19 Apr 2012

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Thank You very much Mr.Graham.

vk4tec

Senior Member

Joined: 24/03/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 239

Posted: 09:15am 19 Apr 2012

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Anyone using MMBasic 3.2 on DuinoMite Mini ?

Having issues

1. Green SD card light comes on
2. CTRL-C does not stop program
3. Need to sometimes eject SD CARD to un lock board
4. open "COM3:19200" as #1 , does not seem to work

Andrew Rich VK4TEC
www.tech-software.net

Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3194

Posted: 09:58am 19 Apr 2012

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It definitely works on the DuinoMite Mini, I did most of the development on one.

GeoffEdited by Geoffg 2012-04-20

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

vk4tec

Senior Member

Joined: 24/03/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 239

Posted: 05:21pm 20 Apr 2012

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Ok I think I found my problem

open "COM3:19200" as #1
print "Made it here ok"

open "COM2:19200" as #1
print "Made it here ok"

COM3 hangs the DuinoMite Mini ( UEXT )

COM2 does not hang, and prints "Made it here"

Andrew Rich VK4TEC
www.tech-software.net

vk4tec

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Joined: 24/03/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 239

Posted: 05:24pm 20 Apr 2012

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Yep - that seems to be it

open "COM3:19200" as #1 ( just a one line program )

hangs my DuinoMite Mini

Control-C does nothing.

I have to reset button

Andrew

Andrew Rich VK4TEC
www.tech-software.net

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