PicoMite MMBasic GPIO Library v1.0 available

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vincenthimpe Regular Member Joined: 14/10/2018 Location: United States Posts: 86	Posted: 04:25pm 09 May 2025         Mixtel90 said   I hope you don't mind me saying so, but neat as this library is it adds nothing to the readability or portability of code unless the same library is available for the other platforms. It's fine for those who intend to only stick to the PicoMite but attempting to then port a program over to the CMM2 or ARMmite would be impossible. MMBasic itself isn't always 100% portable as the Pico uses unique internals, but at least it's usually possible to see what's going on and, if necessary, re-write routines. All I'm saying is that, unless someone is writing code that they know can't be run on anything else (it may be using a PIO or the HSTX for example) then it's probably better not to use this library as it is RPxxxx specific. Yes, the library is for PicoMite only. Portability was never a design criterium. (apart from RP2040 / RP2350) As for not adding anything , that is not correct. It adds the capability to set advanced pin functions like drive strength, buskeep mode, open collector/emitter mode , and other things, as well as perform parallel I/O. I use the RPxxxx chips as microcontrollers. They are cheap, small, and with MMBasic i don't need a compiler and endless program, debug, rewrite cycles. It has command prompt and i can try things interactively to debug my design. Beyond the USB port for a terminal and the I2C ports i don't really use any other functionality of the device. IN/Out is all i need . i don't even use the built-in ADC. I2C ADC's are cheap and i can put them where i need them. If i need a display it's an i2c based display, either OLED or HD44780. UI is driven by a few buttons on an ADC (resistor ladder) or a simple rotary encoder. Different mindset. I don't treat it as a commodore 64 with monitor and drive (sdcard).... it's an 8051 that happens to run Basic. It's not a general purpose computer, but a microcontroller that sits in the dark doing its thing, headless. I'm not stuck to the pico boards either. I Make my own boards where i can access all the GPIOs as i please (apart from QSPI for flash or psram and an occasional SDCARD). Not interested in wifi either. Once debugging is done the program is set to autorun and even USB is not needed anymore. It's a canned microcontroller at that point. i wish they would make a dip40 or dip68 (like the 68000) package... (with ALL the gpio's brought out and ditch the on-board noisy regulator. only USB-C , reset and boot button and flash/psram on the qspi). i may have to roll one.... the current boards are wider than a standard DIP40 Edited 2025-05-10 02:28 by vincenthimpe