Software for an open source project - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 03:52:22 am
content: Hello,I’m wondering if anyone would volunteer to write an easy Windows or Mac application to support an open source microcontroller GPS project.The hardware is not quite ready for release yet, but quickly getting there... so there will be a little time before I’m ready to engage in this.The software needed is already written in C, and runs in Xcode for iPhone Simulator where it’s pretty uselessbut should be pretty easy to reproduce with the likes of Borland C (which I have used, but don’t own).It’s basically just a file parser/converter that takes a few Mb of free map file as input, a couple of values from the user to beinserted at the beginning of the new file, and outputs a converted file. It can all be done in a big RAM buffer on a desktop system.The only difference between the existing code is the way a Windows package will handle opening and creating the files.Cheers, Brek.

author: daveatol
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 04:00:25 am
content: I can code it in C# if you want. The executable can then be run on Windows/Linux/MacOS either natively, or through Mono. If you provide the source, some input files for testing, and the expected output files, it shouldn't be too hard.

author: daveatol
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 05:56:27 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on May 12, 2017, 05:31:50 amYou should be able to do everything straight in C#. I am guessing the import/parsing is not very complex, and it will be cleaner/simpler and more maintainable just to have C#.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2017, 06:37:14 am
content: GreatI should have said two RAM arrays. The original file is loaded into the first array which is limited to 10Mb (and the file size is remembered),then the parser part writes the new file into the second array which is also size limited, but the second file will always be smaller than the first.IIRC, about 3 values are required as input from the user to be inserted into fixed locations in the new file (so also fairly easy).The most it does is convert ASCII coordinates to 32 bit binary float values to save the microcontroller having to do that at execution time.Making the file smaller also has the side effect of making if faster for the microcontroller to search the file, and render the map screen.If more than one person is willing to have a crack at it, I’ll just make a zip package of some input and output files,along with the Xcode (C) source I have, and anyone can have a crack at it. I’d do it myself if I had an uninfected copy of BorlandHopefully I’ll have that sorted some time next week.Thanks for the replies also, I appreciate the interest

author: jiro
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 14, 2017, 12:49:55 am
content: Hi all,Well, I think the language doesn't matter as long as it can be executed/compiled in the plattaforms you need. Java, C#, Python orObject Pascalif you feel a little rebel.Even if the app require a heavy calculation those can be good options (to a certain point of course)